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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| O'Loan briefs board on collusion | O'Loan briefs board on collusion |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Police Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan is briefing the Policing Board on her findings of RUC collusion with loyalists at a special meeting. | |
| Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde is also attending the sessions. | |
| Unionists have criticised the report for what they said was a lack of evidence. | |
| Nationalists have called on the former Chief Constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan to resign from his post as Head of Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary. | Nationalists have called on the former Chief Constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan to resign from his post as Head of Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary. |
| Northern Ireland's Police Ombudsman found officers colluded with loyalists behind over a dozen murders in north Belfast - during the 1990s - at a time when Sir Ronnie was in charge. | Northern Ireland's Police Ombudsman found officers colluded with loyalists behind over a dozen murders in north Belfast - during the 1990s - at a time when Sir Ronnie was in charge. |
| But Sir Ronnie said on Tuesday that he had no knowledge of any collusion. | But Sir Ronnie said on Tuesday that he had no knowledge of any collusion. |
| Sir Ronnie Flanagan has dismissed resign calls | Sir Ronnie Flanagan has dismissed resign calls |
| In an interview on the BBC's Spotlight programme on Tuesday, Sir Ronnie also dismissed calls for his resignation as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary. | In an interview on the BBC's Spotlight programme on Tuesday, Sir Ronnie also dismissed calls for his resignation as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary. |
| "I reject that as chief constable it would have been easy or possible for me to know all that is going on in relation to the handling of informants within one unit, of one paramilitary organisation, in one geographical area of Belfast," he said. | "I reject that as chief constable it would have been easy or possible for me to know all that is going on in relation to the handling of informants within one unit, of one paramilitary organisation, in one geographical area of Belfast," he said. |
| "I think what we have to bring to this is some sense of balance. | "I think what we have to bring to this is some sense of balance. |
| "We have to look at it and dispel the thought that this was some sort of common practice right throughout Special Branch." | "We have to look at it and dispel the thought that this was some sort of common practice right throughout Special Branch." |
| Earlier, in a statement, he told the BBC that he had fully cooperated with the ombudsman's investigation at all times. | Earlier, in a statement, he told the BBC that he had fully cooperated with the ombudsman's investigation at all times. |
| Nevertheless, he is facing calls to quit the body which promotes police efficiency. | Nevertheless, he is facing calls to quit the body which promotes police efficiency. |
| The issue is expected to be raised in the House of Commons during Prime Ministers questions. | The issue is expected to be raised in the House of Commons during Prime Ministers questions. |
| A Sinn Fein delegation is expected to call for action from the Irish government during a meeting later with Irish Foreign Minister Dermott Ahern. | A Sinn Fein delegation is expected to call for action from the Irish government during a meeting later with Irish Foreign Minister Dermott Ahern. |
| 'Totally unacceptable' | 'Totally unacceptable' |
| Meanwhile, the sister of a man murdered by the UVF gang at the centre of the ombudsman's report said the family were not warned in advance that he was to be mentioned in the report. | Meanwhile, the sister of a man murdered by the UVF gang at the centre of the ombudsman's report said the family were not warned in advance that he was to be mentioned in the report. |
| Jacqueline Larkin's brother, Gerard Brady, a Catholic taxi driver, was murdered in Carrickfergus in 1994 after picking up a fare in Antrim. | Jacqueline Larkin's brother, Gerard Brady, a Catholic taxi driver, was murdered in Carrickfergus in 1994 after picking up a fare in Antrim. |
| Jacqueline Larkin said the way they found out was totally unacceptable. | Jacqueline Larkin said the way they found out was totally unacceptable. |
| "I am not knocking the ombudsman's team - because of certain reasons they couldn't release information to us. | "I am not knocking the ombudsman's team - because of certain reasons they couldn't release information to us. |
| "But I think it would be a fairer thing to come and let my mother know, or a member of the family have some idea that Gerard was going to be named in that report." | "But I think it would be a fairer thing to come and let my mother know, or a member of the family have some idea that Gerard was going to be named in that report." |
| However, a Police Ombudsman spokesman said all the families were contacted before the report's publication. | However, a Police Ombudsman spokesman said all the families were contacted before the report's publication. |
| He said he believed that, in some cases, there were communication problems between some family members. | He said he believed that, in some cases, there were communication problems between some family members. |