Public inquiry needed to get the full truth of collusion

GARY Haggarty rose to a senior position within the UVF in North Belfast and was a police informer. His activities and those of his handlers first came to light in the Ombudsman’s investigation into Mount Vernon loyalists. The inquiry opened a can of worms. Mark Haddock and Gary Haggarty, the most well known and prolific offenders, were both in the pay of Special Branch. Haggarty yesterday pleaded guilty to more than 200 crimes; and what an extraordinary litany it was as charge after charge was put to him before Mr Justice Tracey. All in all, along with more than 300 other charges which will also be taken into consideration when final sentencing is concluded in late September, the loyalist will have a charge sheet with 500 offences. What a trail of misery he inflicted on all his victims, a number of Relatives for Justice has supported. While the image of the loyalist pleading guilty has been an important milestone along the road to accountability, more is required from the prosecuting authorities. We now have to see whether the PSNI will follow through on prosecutions of Haggarty’s colleagues; and, crucially, we need to see his handlers being brought to account along with those senior officers who allowed this corrupt system to operate on their watch. These are the criteria against which to measure the work of the PSNI and the PPS. This case shows collusion between the RUC and loyalists was endemic and it bled over into the PSNI. In any other jurisdiction, this level of integration between the police and criminals would result in a public inquiry to ensure no repetition. Through Haggarty’s guilty pleas, a full examination of the facts by way of a public trial has been avoided. Unless other UVF personnel or police handlers are prosecuted, a full public airing will not take place. It is of profound public interest that a cover-up of police involvement is not allowed to happen.

INFORMER Loyalist Mark Haddock