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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| Loughinisland massacre: Court quashes Police Ombudsman report | Loughinisland massacre: Court quashes Police Ombudsman report |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Belfast High Court has quashed a report compiled by the Police Ombudsman into the Loughinisland massacre. | Belfast High Court has quashed a report compiled by the Police Ombudsman into the Loughinisland massacre. |
| Six men died in the attack when loyalist gunmen opened fire in a pub in the County Down village in June 1994. | Six men died in the attack when loyalist gunmen opened fire in a pub in the County Down village in June 1994. |
| Relatives of those who died were strongly critical of the 2011 report, published by the former police ombudsman, Al Hutchinson. | Relatives of those who died were strongly critical of the 2011 report, published by the former police ombudsman, Al Hutchinson. |
| Mr Hutchinson has since been replaced by Dr Michael Maguire, who will now lead a fresh investigation of the case. | Mr Hutchinson has since been replaced by Dr Michael Maguire, who will now lead a fresh investigation of the case. |
| The victim's families, who had branded the previous report a whitewash, welcomed the court's decision. | The victim's families, who had branded the previous report a whitewash, welcomed the court's decision. |
| The six men who died in the in the Heights Bar shooting were all Catholics. | The six men who died in the in the Heights Bar shooting were all Catholics. |
| They were among customers watching the Republic of Ireland play Italy in a World Cup football match when UVF gunmen entered the pub and opened fire indiscriminately. | They were among customers watching the Republic of Ireland play Italy in a World Cup football match when UVF gunmen entered the pub and opened fire indiscriminately. |
| Those shot dead included 87-year-old Barney Greene, one of the oldest victims of the Troubles in Northern Ireland. | Those shot dead included 87-year-old Barney Greene, one of the oldest victims of the Troubles in Northern Ireland. |
| Also killed were Adrian Rogan, 34, Malcolm Jenkinson, 53, Daniel McCreanor, 59, Patrick O'Hare, 35, and Eamon Byrne, 39. Five others were seriously wounded. | Also killed were Adrian Rogan, 34, Malcolm Jenkinson, 53, Daniel McCreanor, 59, Patrick O'Hare, 35, and Eamon Byrne, 39. Five others were seriously wounded. |
| No one has been convicted of the murders, although 16 people have been arrested in connection with the attack. | No one has been convicted of the murders, although 16 people have been arrested in connection with the attack. |
| Victims' relatives suspect the RUC investigation was undermined in order to protect informants. | Victims' relatives suspect the RUC investigation was undermined in order to protect informants. |
| But in June last year, Mr Hutchinson found there was not enough evidence of collusion between police and the loyalist gang. | But in June last year, Mr Hutchinson found there was not enough evidence of collusion between police and the loyalist gang. |
| The relatives sought to have these findings' quashed, with lawyers for the families claiming the conclusions reached were flawed. | The relatives sought to have these findings' quashed, with lawyers for the families claiming the conclusions reached were flawed. |
| Mr Maguire took up office as Police Ombudsman in July. | Mr Maguire took up office as Police Ombudsman in July. |
| His decision to re-open the case is believed to relate to statements made by a self-confessed UVF informer and a former RUC detective. | His decision to re-open the case is believed to relate to statements made by a self-confessed UVF informer and a former RUC detective. |
| 'More questions than answers' | 'More questions than answers' |
| The move has been welcomed by both Sinn Fein and the SDLP. | The move has been welcomed by both Sinn Fein and the SDLP. |
| "The decision to quash this investigation which was brought forward by the previous Ombudsman Al Hutchinson and to re-investigate the tragic events that happened in Loughinisland is the right one," Sinn Fein's Caitriona Ruane said. | "The decision to quash this investigation which was brought forward by the previous Ombudsman Al Hutchinson and to re-investigate the tragic events that happened in Loughinisland is the right one," Sinn Fein's Caitriona Ruane said. |
| "It was clear that the families had no confidence in this investigation and its findings." | "It was clear that the families had no confidence in this investigation and its findings." |
| South Down MP, the SDLP's Margaret Ritchie, said: "The previous report posed more questions than it answered and pointed to collusion in the murder of six innocent catholic men." | |