PSNI chief is to be asked questions over Loughinisland investigations

PSNI chief is to be asked questions over Loughinisland investigations

23 November 2022

PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne is to be asked to explain why the organisation’s Legacy and Closure branch was unable to provide answers to questions in relation to the review of the 1994 Loughinisland massacre.

Six innocent men were murdered at The Heights bar as they watched a World Cup match on television.

Adrian Rogan (34), Malcolm Jenkinson (52), Barney Green (87), Daniel McCreanor (59), Patrick O’Hare (35) and Eamon Byrne (39) all died as a result of the UVF gun attack. No one has yet been brought to justice for the crime.

South Down MLA Colin McGrath said a review into the Loughinisland murders was carried out in 2011 and found shortcomings and that when a further review was carried out in 2018, more  shortcomings were discovered.

He said the one matter that was “crystal clear” was that the investigations were inadequate. 

Mr McGrath said the “horrendous murders” which made headlines across the globe, may have been 28 years ago, but the pain was still felt by the families and the people of Loughinisland.

He said the fact Loughinisland community had been let down by such investigations only added insult and further pain to the loss they have felt as a result of this murder.

Mr McGrath confirmed that he contacted the PSNI Legacy Investigation Branch regarding the ongoing review into the 1994 massacre.

“This massacre is a stain on our history, has caused untold hurt and pain in the local area and continues to cause pain to this day,” he continued.

“I submitted a number of letters to the PSNI’s Head of Legacy and Disclosure and noted that the 2011 and the 2018 reviews into the atrocity identified a number of actions, neither of which resulted in anything happening.

“Therefore, I requested a breakdown of what these actions were, an explanation of each action and why they did not warrant further investigation.”

The South Down MLA revealed that he was “shocked” at the update he received.

He said he was informed by the PSNI that, having ‘carefully considered’ his request, there were not the resources available to answer the question.

Mr McGrath also confirmed that the police force was unable to provide a time frame for when the review will commence.

“This is deeply worrying,” he declared. “With every passing year, 

our window of opportunity to give truth and justice to those families of Loughinisland gets smaller. 

“And with every review that does not deliver action, faith in such legacy investigations wanes. I appreciate that the legacy investigations branch of the PSNI has over 1,000 cases and is concerned with the death of over 1,400 individuals. 

“However, it would be a disservice were I not to make the case as strongly as possible for the families of 

Loughinisland who have suffered so heinously at the hands of corruption, collusion and murder.”

Mr McGrath added: “To say that resources are not available to answer questions is simply not good enough. I will now be raising this matter with the Chief Constable of the PSNI and demanding those answers.”