Relatives for Justice (RFJ) welcomes the Police Ombudsman findings, which we firmly believe constitute collusion and collusive behaviours by the RUC in the killings of Seamus Morris (18yrs) and Peter Dolan (25yrs) by the UVF, on 8th August 1988 in Belfast. Despite evidence and intelligence the state did nothing to disrupt the known UVF murder gang, and failed to act on intelligence, forensic, ballistic and eye witness evidence. These failings by the RUC copper fastened the killers’ impunity.
Speaking after a meeting between the Police Ombudsman, the Morris family and the family solicitor, KRW Law, RFJ’s caseworker Paul Butler said that the findings of the Police Ombudsman’s investigation list a catalogue of failures in the murder investigation, which included “missed” opportunities, and a failure to act on intelligence that clearly emanated from sources/agents. The modus of RUC Special Branch has always been to protect their agents, including those within the UVF.
Criticisms included the failure to act on intelligence regarding the rearming of loyalist paramilitaries with South African weapons which led to an unprecedent capacity to wage a sectarian murder campaign. In her words, “These weapons significantly enhanced the capability of loyalist paramilitaries to escalate their sectarian campaign against the nationalist and republican communities.”
It is clear from the report that RUC Special Branch had firsthand intelligence from UVF meetings at the Heather Street Social Club, North Belfast, where the murder gang discussed who they were going to target and kill in North Belfast. RUC Special Branch took the decision not to pass that information on, which may have prevented murders from being carried out. This same club in Heather Street was used as a UVF meeting house, a dump for murder weapons which included South African weaponry, a fact that the RUC Special Branch was well aware of but did not attempt to “disrupt”. Two of the regular frequenters of this den were implicated in the killings, but faced no effective investigation.
The RUC investigation deliberately did not exploit forensic or ballistic evidence available to them in this case, including:
* The eyewitness testimony of Seamus Morris’ brother Conor, who witnessed the murder and gave the RUC a photofit description of one of the murder gang, was not acted on. He was never asked to attend any identification parades despite the suspects being known to the RUC;
* Murder files, including journals and notebooks were destroyed/missing;
* In January 1988 one of the key suspects had been arrested when a UVF gun was found in his home, yet he was released without charge;
* numerous items discovered in the getaway car, including a discarded cigarette butt, were destroyed.
Paul Butler, continued, “The policy objective of RUC Special Branch, British army and Security Service was to rearm loyalism through the shipment of weapons from South Africa. The dissemination of intelligence to loyalist paramilitaries, the clearing of routes for loyalist murder gangs, and the deliberately flawed investigations post murders all formed part of the policy of collusion, as we believe is more than demonstrated in this devastating case.”
RFJ welcomes the Police Ombudsman’s report but regrets that the Ombudsman is limited to expressing her investigative findings due to a legal challenge brought by the Retired Police Officers’ Association (RUC) against her Office, which is currently under litigation. Despite these limitations, the findings of the Ombudsman’s report underscore the very truths that the Legacy Act was designed to suppress. Over 400 investigations under the remit of the Police Ombudsman’s Office have now been halted due to this legislation. RFJ calls for the immediate repeal of the Legacy Act and the dismantling of the ICRIR. We urge the implementation of the previously agreed package of measures, including the continuation of OPONI investigations, and the establishment of a human rights-compliant mechanism based on the Stormont House Agreement PLUS.
These families have not only endured the horrendous murders of their loved ones and lived with the trauma ever since, they have also had insult added to injury by the deliberately flawed investigation which resulted in those responsible for planning and carrying out the murders evading justice and accountability. Their steadfast resolve in Never Giving Up has demonstrated a bravery and dignity, motivated only by the love of their relatives and finding the truth. Their quest stands in stark contrast to everything that the RUC represented at the time of these murders, and ever since. Our thoughts and prayers are with them tonight and in the days ahead.
The full Ombudsman’s report can be read here PONI Report on Seamus Morris and Peter Dolan
