Delay in Loughinisland report

New Evidence in Loughinisland Inquiry only now coming to light days before publication of report due

Report may be compromised by New Evidence

The Following is a Joint Statement by Eddie McGrady MP & Minister Margaret Ritchie MLA

“Having just today received a briefing from the Police Ombudsman Al Hutchinson on the status of the Louginisland Report we are extremely disappointed at the lack of specific findings that will lead to the prosecution of the murderers.

It beggars belief that with all the inquiries, evidence at the scene of this atrocity and the many years of prolonged investigation and re-evaluation, that not one person who perpetrated this crime or accomplices have been pin- pointed in this report. It is incredible that an investigation having discovered guns, gloves and balaclavas together with the car used in the massacre, could not find evidence against specific individuals.

The whole circumstances surrounding the night, the subsequent police investigation and follow-up forensic examination has failed to identify the killers, this leads us to believe that some elements of the security forces frustrated the inquiry. Additionally the high level of penetration by the Security forces into loyalist paramilitary sources should also have ensured a better outcome.

The shock and surprise now is the advent of new information coming to light which may effect the outcome of the Ombudsman’s report and will compromise the release of the report next week.

We must ask the very grave question as to why this clearly relevant and potentially vital information has not come to light before now during the Ombudsman’s Investigation, which we were assured would be thorough and professional.

The real trauma, disappointment and despair in all of this sad saga is that of the families who will have to suffer again the outcome of a less than acceptable report and investigation into the brutal murders of their loved ones.

Over the years, on a regular basis we have been pursing this case away from the public eye in light of the sensitivities and feelings of the families and the local community

We will continue to demand for the release of a comprehensive and meaningful report. However the progress to date, the findings of the report to date and the advent of this “new” information may have set back the possibility of justice, by way of prosecutions, being achieved”

Ends.