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'No confidence' in leadership of PSNI unit reviewing unsolved Troubles murders

A report published yesterday found that the some military cases relating to state involvement were reviewed with less rigor than others.

THE NORTHERN IRELAND Policing Board has said that it has ‘no confidence’ in the leadership of a PSNI unit responsible for reviewing cases of those beavered by ‘The Troubles’ and related unsolved murders.

An inspection report published yesterday outlined a number of issues relating to the accountability and transparency of the Historical Enquiries Team (HET).

It also highlighted inconsistencies in the approach to case handling and found that some military cases, relating to state involvement in violent deaths, were reviewed with less rigor than others.

Yesterday the policing board said it was “seriously concerned” that there were large numbers of areas where the HET do not conform to current policing standards or practice and,  in some military cases noted, it was in breach of human rights requirements.

Today the board issued a statement saying that it had “no confidence in the leadership” of the HET and said that the Chief Constable has been asked to “review and action the management arrangements of the unit” with immediate effect.

It also said that military case reviews by the unit will now be suspended and a dedicated working group has been established to take forward and oversee the 20 recommendatiosn in the inspection report.

“This group, comprising political and independent membership, will also review PSNI failures to respond promptly to issues raised in relation to the work of the HET,” it said.

The group will meet next week to begin this work and will report on progress in the autumn.

Read: PSNI’s Historical Enquiries Team criticised in new report>
Column: The victims of the Troubles were not ‘collateral damage’ and they deserve justice>

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40 Comments
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    Mute Eamonn O'Riain
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    Jul 4th 2013, 9:05 PM

    Robby Hammill R.I.P.
    RUC sat by and did nothing as the young man was beaten to death on the streets of Portadown in front of his sister.
    The family had to endure the taunts of the Orange Order in subsequent years.

    70
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    Mute gary power
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    Jul 4th 2013, 9:08 PM

    No surprise there ..

    34
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    Mute Bobby Murray
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    Jul 4th 2013, 9:21 PM

    Democracy is still a long way off !

    32
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    Mute Ciaran Scally
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    Jul 4th 2013, 9:21 PM

    Did we really expect fair play from this crowd?

    28
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    Mute Piarais Mac An TSaoir
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    Jul 4th 2013, 10:54 PM

    Both sides have blood on their hands, but let’s be clear – only one was the established ‘state’, only one was the so called ‘police’ force supposed to uphold law and order equally and without discrimination.

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    Mute EastBankL'derry
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    Jul 4th 2013, 11:20 PM

    No lives lost were any less valuable though based on who killed them.

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    Mute Piarais Mac An TSaoir
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    Jul 4th 2013, 11:28 PM

    Of course. 100% agree. Time to move on.

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    Mute Bobby Murray
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    Jul 4th 2013, 11:34 PM

    EastBank, I totally agree, however you have to put that comment to the Historical Enquiry Team because they do not share that view!

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    Mute EastBankL'derry
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    Jul 4th 2013, 11:36 PM

    Bobby my view is that the HET should be scrapped and a line drawn under the whole thing. I made that statement yesterday on a similar article.

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    Mute Bobby Murray
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    Jul 4th 2013, 11:47 PM

    I respect your opinion! Give all on EastBank a big hello from your Cork friends.

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    Mute Limerick Tony
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    Jul 5th 2013, 12:07 AM

    patrick lyons and david thompson ffs.

    patrick, do you think that using gaelic names hides your identity?

    Thompson ffs how many names do you have now.

    eastbank lmfao…………..lol……….lol………………lmao

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    Mute EastBankL'derry
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    Jul 5th 2013, 1:14 PM

    I’ll be sure to do that Bobby :)

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    Mute Jamie McCormack
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    Jul 4th 2013, 11:09 PM

    Who’s afraid of the truth? Who’s got the most to hide?

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    Mute EastBankL'derry
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    Jul 4th 2013, 11:31 PM

    I’d say most are already in the grave themselves.

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    Mute Jamie McCormack
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    Jul 4th 2013, 11:41 PM

    David you see it’s not so much about the actual personnel that were involved, more the governments and their agencies who carried out murder on behalf of the state, and the British government in particular have a lot of skeletons in their closet. Adams has called for a truth commission, the British don’t want to know about it.. what does that tell you?

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    Mute Bobby Murray
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    Jul 4th 2013, 11:57 PM

    Jamie, I suspected the same….DAVID!!!! :) :) :)

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    Mute Jamie McCormack
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    Jul 5th 2013, 2:11 AM

    Of course it is Bob, and forget drawing any line under anything, the people want the truth and they will have it no matter how long it takes. David would love to draw a line because the British have a whole lot to lose if there were ever to be a proper truth inquiry, their hands are stained with innocent blood.

    6
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    Mute EastBankL'derry
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    Jul 5th 2013, 1:16 PM

    My name is Alan actually, theres a clue in my Twitter account

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    Mute EastBankL'derry
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    Jul 4th 2013, 9:25 PM

    Funny the way it says child killers there in the picture above, no doubt written by republican sympathisers whos movement also killed scores of children in NI and England #potandkettle

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    Mute Stephen Downey
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    Jul 4th 2013, 9:47 PM

    Nothing funny about it.
    Truth & Reconciliation is needed. From the IRA, the RUC, the British Army and both governments.

    25
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    Mute EastBankL'derry
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    Jul 4th 2013, 9:51 PM

    What about the loyalists who were responsible for 1000 deaths, do they get a free pass or what?

    And by the way I was just pointing out the hypocrisy in the picture above.

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    Mute Bobby Murray
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    Jul 4th 2013, 9:58 PM

    EastBank. Your comment although expected, basically implies that two wrongs make it right. This is about the coverup of murders by the British armed forces and the Police, similar to the mass murder of innocent civilians in your city of Derry i.e. Bloody Sunday?

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    Mute EastBankL'derry
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    Jul 4th 2013, 10:05 PM

    Bobby. What about unsolved republican crimes too, do you want the truth to emerge about those too? Would you support the perpetrators being brought to justice?

    The bloody Sunday families want the paras in court for it, would you support the perpetrators of say Kingsmills being brought up too if they were unmasked?

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    Mute Stephen Downey
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    Jul 4th 2013, 10:25 PM

    No, loyalists too.
    How can a photo be hypocritical?

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    Mute EastBankL'derry
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    Jul 4th 2013, 10:29 PM

    The message displayed in the photo is hypocritical

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    Mute Bobby Murray
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    Jul 4th 2013, 10:35 PM

    “The photo is hypocritical.” you say?

    Geddis, Stephen 30 August 1975 (10) Catholic
    Status: Civilian (Civ), Killed by: British Army (BA)
    Died two days after being hit by plastic bullet, Divis Flats, Belfast.

    Stewart, Brian 10 October 1976 (13) Catholic
    Status: Civilian (Civ), Killed by: British Army (BA)
    Died six days after being hit by plastic bullet near his home, Norglen Road, Turf Lodge, Belfast.

    Donnelly, Michael 09 August 1980 (21) Catholic
    Status: Civilian (Civ), Killed by: British Army (BA)
    Shot by plastic bullet at the junction of Leeson Street and Falls Road, Belfast.

    Whitters, Paul 25 April 1981 (15) Catholic
    Status: Civilian (Civ), Killed by: Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC)
    Died 10 days after being shot by plastic bullet, Great James Street, Derry.

    Livingstone, Julie 13 May 1981 (14) Catholic
    Status: Civilian (Civ), Killed by: British Army (BA)
    Shot by plastic bullet while walking along Stewartstown Road, Suffolk, Belfast.

    21
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    Mute EastBankL'derry
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    Jul 4th 2013, 10:37 PM

    What about the kids murdered by republicans Bobby, any opinion on them?

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    Mute Bobby Murray
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    Jul 4th 2013, 10:40 PM

    Put up or shut up!

    15
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    Mute EastBankL'derry
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    Jul 4th 2013, 10:47 PM

    Johnathan Ball (12) and Tim Parry (3), murdered in Warrington by the PIRA in 1993.

    Michelle Baird (7) and Leanne Murray (13), murdered in the Shankill bombing by the PIRA in 1993.

    Tracy Munn (2) and Colin Nicholl (6 months), murdered by the PIRA in Balmoral furnishings, Belfast 1971.

    3
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    Mute Bobby Murray
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    Jul 4th 2013, 10:48 PM

    The few named children above as there are many more, were victims of premeditated murder. The weapons were held by highly trained army/Police personnel and deliberately aimed and fired at innocent children, their little heads were crushed! No unintentional killings there, just murder?

    22
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    Mute EastBankL'derry
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    Jul 4th 2013, 10:51 PM

    Whats your opinion on those children murdered by republicans?

    3
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    Mute Bobby Murray
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    Jul 4th 2013, 11:06 PM

    It was wrong and should not have happened, no innocent child deserve to be killed. The whole issue is about the investigations into all the deaths, but as expected the murders by the armed forces is been diverted, as usual when you have those responsible i.e. Police doing the investigating!

    12
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    Mute EastBankL'derry
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    Jul 4th 2013, 11:08 PM

    So apart from security forces being held accountable do you also believe those republicans who murdered and got away with it should be held to account also? Thats my question to you.

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    Mute Bobby Murray
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    Jul 4th 2013, 11:16 PM

    Subsequent to the peace process and the PIRA disbanding and decommissioning their weapons, ex-members have and are still being arrested for previous acts. Not one member of the armed forces have been made accountable for the numerous murders they carried out. Why?

    20
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    Mute EastBankL'derry
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    Jul 4th 2013, 11:22 PM

    I asked if you agree with them IRA members being held to account or not, whats your answer?

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    Mute David
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    Jul 4th 2013, 10:36 PM

    Blame Warren Gatland

    5
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    Mute Bobby Murray
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    Jul 4th 2013, 11:42 PM

    …and Warren Gatland hasn’t helped either, the bast.rd! :()

    5
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    Mute EastBankL'derry
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    Jul 4th 2013, 10:52 PM

    And why did you name a 21 year old, thats an adult not a child.

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    Mute Bobby Murray
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    Jul 4th 2013, 10:57 PM

    So he deserved to die because of his age??? Jesus, that is a frightening excuse for murder, what excuse do you have for the murder of an innocent ten year old?

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    Mute EastBankL'derry
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    Jul 4th 2013, 11:09 PM

    You were naming kids and on your list was an adult. I never said anybody deserved to die. Dont go twisting my words Bobby.

    3
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