Dublin South West Sinn Féin TD, Seán Crowe, has claimed that the Police Ombudsman’s report into the Loughinisland massacre shows clear and specific collusion between the British State and this UVF death squad.

Crowe, who is a member of the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement, said he intends to raise the issue in the Dáil at the earliest opportunity.

Deputy Seán Crowe said:

“Firstly, I want to commend the families of those killed and wounded in the Loughinisland massacre for their courage, commitment, and relentless drive to uncover the truth about what happened on that awful night on 18 June 1994.

“Their loved ones were intently watching Ireland play Italy in the World Cup, like many of us who will also be watching Ireland play Italy in the European Championships in the coming days, when the murderous attack began

“They were victims of an unprovoked and sectarian attack that left 6 dead and 5 injured.

“The Loughinisland relatives have had to wait a long 22 years for this report, and now we know why.

“The report is unambiguous. It shows clear and systemic collusion between British agents, the RUC and the UVF death squad who carried out the attack.

“Some of those directly involved were RUC agents, using weapons from South Africa that were brought in to Ireland by other British agents. The RUC never carried out any real investigation into the Loughinisland massacre and they proactively engaged in a cover up.

“No one can now deny that the British government and its state forces actively colluded with loyalist death squads to murder Irish citizens, and then went to extraordinary lengths to protect those directly and indirectly involved

“The depth of collusion detailed in this report goes beyond the Loughinisland massacre and the Ombudsmans Report makes a direct link with the Glenanne Gang, who were involved in the 1974 Dublin and Monaghan bombings.

“The British State also continues to prevaricate and withhold vital information on these bombings, despite years of campaigning by the victims and their families, and 3 all-party Dáil motions calling on them to release the relevant files.

“The British Government needs to acknowledge their responsibility and open up their files to independent scrutiny.

“I intend to raise this Ombudsman’s Report in the Dáil at the first available opportunity and to put it on the agenda of the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement when it is reconvened.”

ENDS