Ritchie presses NIO for Loughinisland prosecutions
SDLP South Down MP Margaret Ritchie has met with senior Northern Ireland Office Officials where she pressed them to ensure prosecutions for the Loughinisland Massacre are pursued.
During the meeting she also repeated her demand for an apology and compensation for the victims from the British Government.
Ritchie, said, “In what was a very frank discussion with the Under Secretary of State, Kris Hopkins, I made clear and in no uncertain terms, that the obligation now rests with the British Government to ensure that prosecutions are pursued over the Loughinisland Massacre.
“I am pleased that Mr Hopkins has now committed to meeting with the Chief Constable on this issue but they must now go further. The Police Ombudsman found that the British Government failed utterly to pursue those importing the arms that made this heinous act possible. It also found that RUC collusion was a significant feature of the attack.
“In the face of such a damning report, it is imperative that the British Government also commits to compensating the victims and issuing an unreserved apology for their failure to protect the six men murdered that day.
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She added, “The SDLP will not limit our support for the Loughinisland victims to strong words in front of TV cameras or to photo opportunities outside the courts. We are actively pursuing those in power and ensuring that this injustice is not swept under the rug where it has been kept for far too long.”
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