Today Police Ombudsman Dr Michael Maguire published into the 1994 Loughinisland murders. He found collusion between the RUC and UVF was a "significant feature" of the killings.
See the Ombudsman's full report
He found that:
- Police were aware of suspects' names within 24 hours of the shootings but delayed arrests
- Police did not probe allegations that an officer warned suspects they were to be arrested
- An initial suspect was an RUC informer
- Information received concerning a 'small but ruthless' UVF unit was not passed to detectives investigating their attacks. Doing so may have prevented the Loughinisland attack.
- Despite having names of those suspected to be responsible within 24 hours, there was a "significant delay" in arresting them.
- Police were protecting informants involved in importing loyalist guns into the north, Weapons were found to be used in 70 murders and attempted murders.
- Police failed to identify farmland used as an arms dump, despite its location being mentioned to officers.
- The weapons used in Loughinisland weapons were also used in other murders and terrorist attacks.
