Sinn Féin’s justice spokesperson Deputy Martin Kenny yesterday challenged the Tanáiste Simon Coveney to use his influence with the British government to get truth about collusion between the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) and the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) and the British intelligence agencies in the murder of six men in a bar in Loughinisland while they were watching the Ireland v Italy match during the 1994 World Cup.

Deputy Kenny said:

“This week RTÉ showed the documentary ‘No Stone Unturned’, an excellent documentary that exposes the depth of collusion between the Ulster Volunteer Force, UVF, killers of six men in a bar in Loughinisland, and the Royal Ulster Constabulary, RUC, and British intelligence agencies.

“The Loughinisland Justice Group has campaigned for many years for truth and justice for their loved ones and against state collusion.  It won a recent case in the High Court of Justice in Belfast, where the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland had to apologise for failing to investigate these killings.  Like all families who are bereaved in the conflict, they are entitled to access to truth about the deaths of their loved ones. 

“There have been numerous agreements, from the Good Friday Agreement up to the more recent Stormont House Agreement, on having legacy mechanisms put in place, but the British Government continues to block these legacy mechanisms.

“While the Assembly is not working, and Deputies may throw that at Sinn Féin, those agreements and their legacy mechanisms can be implemented regardless of whether the Assembly is up and running. 

“These families need to get access to truth and the British Government is standing in the way of that. Will the Tánaiste use his influence to ensure they get access to that truth?”

The Tanáiste responded that the government will continue to strongly advocate for the progression of the legacy structures, consistent with what was agreed in the Stormont House Agreement.