Ombudsman confirms police colluded with killers in Loughinisland massacre

22 years ago, six men were brutally murdered in Loughinisland, Co. Down.

The massacre occurred in The Heights bar, where two members of the Ulster Volunteer Force gunned down six Catholic civilians. The people who committed the murders of Adrian Rogan, Malcolm Jenkinson, Barney Greene, Daniel McCreanor, Patrick O'Hare and Eamon Byrne were never officially convicted. According to the 2011 report by the previous Police Ombudsman Al Hutchinson, there were no signs of collusion between the UVF and the Royal Ulster Constabulary. Speaking to the BBC, Police Ombudsman Michael Maguire has confirmed in his report that there was significant collusion between police informers and the murders.

"I have no hesitation in saying collusion was a significant feature of the Loughinisland murders."

Maguire's report also claims that the RUC in charge at the time adopted a "hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil" tactic when dealing with informants.

"My conclusion is that the initial investigation into the murders at Loughinisland was characterised, in too many instances, by incompetence, indifference and neglect."

Lead image via BBC