Andersontown News, November 15, 2002 - http://www.irelandclick.com/

PSNI accused of double standards

The PSNI has been accused of operating double standards in its investigations into the loyalist murders of four young men in North Belfast and alleged republican intelligence gathering at Stormont.

Already more than 5,000 people have been interviewed in relation to the alleged Stormont spy-ring and 2,000 statements have been taken by the PSNI.

And according to PSNI Acting Chief Constable Alan McQuillan a team of 40 PSNI detectives has been assigned full-time to investigate the Stormont allegations.

The revelations were made at a PSNI called press conference on Monday.

Four people are also facing charges in relation to the intelligence gathering allegations.

However in sharp contrast not a single person has been arrested in connection with Gerard Lawlor’s murder and in all only 19 people have been arrested in connection with the murders of Gavin Brett, Ciaran Cummings and Danny McColgan.

And no team of special detectives has been set-up to crack the loyalist murder gangs responsible for the deaths of four young men in North Belfast.

In fact, almost a year and a half since the first murder only one person faces a charge of withholding information in connection with any of the murders

And in a further kick in the teeth to the bereaved families, a PSNI spokesman refused to reveal how many statements had been taken regarding the four loyalist murders because the investigation was ongoing.

That is despite the PSNI calling a press conference on Monday to give journalists detailed information on the ONGOING investigation into alleged republican activities at Stormont.

Marie McColgan, whose son Danny was murdered by loyalists in Rathcoole last January, says she is dismayed at the PSNI’s attitude.

”Surely murder is the worst crime of all and no expense or resources should be spared in catching the killers,” she said.

“When I hear the news and see how much time and energy the PSNI is devoting to this Stormont spy-ring and compare it with how my Danny’s murder is being investigated I just despair.

“It was the same during the loyalist feud, the PSNI set up special teams to stop them slaughtering eachother but that has never been done to stop sectarian murders. I am actually totally in the dark about Danny’s death at the minute.

“It is sickening.”

The SDLP’s Martin Morgan said the difference in the PSNI”s approach to solving loyalist murders and breaking up alleged republican spy-rings is deeply worrying.

“It is obvious that there has been no resources spared in the PSNI’s investigations into the allegations of republican intelligence gathering at Stormont there should be the same robust approach to loyalist murders. “Catholics in North Belfast feel that when loyalists murder a Catholic the PSNI simply does not tackle it with any enthusiasm. “The fact that four loyalist murders can go unsolved in a three mile radius is very worrying, especially when people consider that the PSNI does have a number of agents working within the UDA, who carried out the murders.

“The simple question that needs to be answered is, why has no-one been charged and what is the PSNI doing to protect innocent Catholics who have been bearing the brunt of the UDA campaign of violence?”

Journalist:Aidan Crean