THE daughter of a Catholic man murdered by the UVF says she has “no faith” in the PSNI as the Policing Board revealed plans to hold a special meeting to discuss failures to disclose information about loyalist murders to the Police Ombudsman.
Sean McParland (55) was shot by police informer Gary Haggarty as he babysat his four grandchildren at Skegoniel Avenue in north Belfast in February 1994 and died a week later. Tomorrow is the 25th anniversary of his death. Haggarty, a UVF commander turned supergrass, served just over four years behind bars despite pleading guilty to five murders and more than 500 other paramilitary crimes.
Concerns have been raised after it emerged that the PSNI failed to provide Ombudsman Michael Maguire with “significant” information relating to the UFF murder of five Catholic men at Sean Graham’s Bookmakers on south Belfast’s Ormeau Road in February 1992. The PSNI has since apologised. Mr McParland’s daughter Sineád Monaghan said she has no confidence in the PSNI in light of recent revelations.
“I have no faith whatsoever in the police because they were behind it. They let it happen. They knew it was going to happen,” she said.
Ms Monaghan said she was shocked to learn that police had not provided information to Dr Maguire.
“It’s another tactic from the police – just holding things back from the innocent people, not letting the families get truth and justice that they deserve,” she said.
Responding, Chief Superintendent Raymond Murray said: “We do not withhold information as a tactic. The Sean McParland murder investigation remains part of a live police enquiry.”
Last year the Public Prosecution Service said it was reviewing decisions not to prosecute eight people – including two retired police officers – in connection with Mr McParland’s murder.
On Friday a spokesman for the prosecution service said that review is “ongoing”.
A Policing Board spokeswoman said a full report has been received from the chief constable and the disclosure issue will be discussed at a special meeting on Tuesday.
It comes as Sinn Féin said nationalist confidence in the PSNI was at “rock bottom” after the disclosure controversy and amid calls for the return of 50:50 recruitment. The Irish News reported this week that 83 per cent of senior officers are Protestant.
On Friday DUP MLA Mervyn Storey called the 50:50 policy “institutionalised sectarian discrimination” and said it will “not be coming back”.
