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Special Branch concerns raised by campaigners

 CAJ deputy director Daniel Holder
CAJ deputy director Daniel Holder CAJ deputy director Daniel Holder

A human rights group has said former RUC Special Branch members should play no part in the proposed Historical Investigations Unit.

The Committee on the Administration of Justice made the call following the latest claims about collusion between security forces and loyalist paramilitary groups.

A BBC Panorama programme broadcast this week examined allegations that loyalist gangs were managed and protected by RUC Special Branch and other intelligence agencies.

Among the claims in the programme was that there were "hundreds and hundreds" of people killed by state agents during the Troubles.

In the past concerns have been raised over the role of former Special Branch officers in investigating the past.

Under the Stormont House Agreement there are proposals to establish an independent Historical Investigations Unit which will investigate Troubles cases.

However, campaigners are worried that former members of Special Branch may be given a role in new structures.

CAJ deputy director Daniel Holder last night warned against their involvement.

Panorama has again highlighted what happened in the past but also the failure to independently investigate it, he said.

Independence requires that persons responsible for any part of the investigation do not have a conflict of interest through an affiliation to RUC Special Branch or any other institution whose actions are likely to themselves be under investigation.

The campaigner also said there are concerns that former Special Branch officers could be given a role in controlling the flow of information to the proposed new body.

Sifting the documents the investigation needs is a key part of the process, he said.

If investigations are to be fully independent, as has been promised, is essential that the new Historical Investigations Unit has direct access to the evidence."