Protests highlight state collusion in sectarian murders

by Democrat reporter

ON FEBRUARY 4th a delegation of 70 relatives, representing 100 families and 150 victims of British collusion with loyalist death squads in Ireland, together with supporters, picketed the MI5 building, the MoD and Tory Central Office in London.

The protest marked the increasing frustration at the Britsih government’s refusal to release the finding of Canadian judge Peter Cory’s inquiry into collusion in sectarian murders between the state and paramilitaries.

Judge Cory investigated the murders of solicitors Rosemary Nelson and Pat Finucane, Portadown father of two Robert Hamill, and Loyalist Volunteer Force leader Billy Wright.

It is known that Judge Cory has recommended to the families of each of these victims that a full independent inquiry into their deaths take place.

Group spokesman Mark Sykes said: “The families are determined that the truth surrounding the murder of our loved ones will not continue to be suppressed by the culture of concealment which operates at the heart of the British government.” The delegation was met at the Houses of Parliament by Sinn Féin MPs Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness.

The Sinn Féin president told the delegation:

“The murder of citizens through collusion with unionist death squads has been and remains a British state policy in Ireland. Collusion - the control, resourcing and direction of loyalist death squads by British state agencies — was sanctioned at the highest level of the British Government. It resulted in the deaths of hundreds of republicans, nationalists and Catholics. “The policy of collusion must be ended, its structures must be disowned and dismantled and there must be full disclosure of the truth about Britain's war in Ireland.”