THE PSNI has been accused of dragging its heels over a report into the Loughinisland massacre.
SDLP MP Margaret Ritchie and Sinn Fein MLA Caitriona Ruane have urged the police to commit all resources necessary to the investigation following a recommendation in last year’s Police Ombudsman’s report into 1994 murders.
“There is now a compelling need for the PSNI to publish the detailed assessment of all the evidence available to them, as they were required to do by the Police Ombudsman’s report of June in last year,” said Miss Ritchie.
“The report assessing the evidence and recommending further lines of investigation was due to be published by the PSNI a number of months ago.
“The Police Ombudsman’s Report published in June 2011 pointed the way towards collusion in the murders, but it was inconclusive and simply deepened the level of frustration and distress felt by the families.
“Eighteen years later we are at a stage where the PSNI are revisiting and actively investigating the atrocity, and while they have assured us that they are committed to arresting and convicting those responsible for the Loughinisland murders we face yet another delay in the publication of their findings.”
Ms Ruane said: “I have been raising the matter of the investigation into the Loughinisland investigation at all levels, including both the Irish and British governments and the Policing Board as I believe not enough is being done to move the investigation forward.
“There are many questions to be answered into the Loughinisland attack including the original RUC investigation, the role of British state agents and the destruction of evidence.
“I believe it is time we had an full independent review of the entire case and I am intent in ensuring that the truth of this matter is brought into the public domain no matter what obstacles are placed in the way.”
Miss Ritchie’s and Ms. Ruane’s comments follow a recent decision by the families of the men murdered in the Heights Bar to sue the Ministry of Defence and the PSNI.