Elliott questions police choice of Troubles era investigations

The Ulster Unionist Party’s Fermanagh & South Tyrone MP Tom Elliott has questioned why the Police have chosen to appeal for information regarding alleged incidents involving the Military Reaction Force in 1972, rather than other Troubles related incidents which resulted in loss of life.    

Mr Elliott said:

“There is no question that all murders should be treated equally. The decision by the PSNI to appeal for information regarding incidents involving the Military Reaction Force in 1972 leads me to ask what kind of strategy is being deployed with regard to investigating the past or unsolved deaths?

“I would like to know the rationale as to why the PSNI have chosen to highlight this particular case and have not in the past launched similar appeals for help with investigations into the Enniskillen Remembrance Day bomb, the Bloody Friday bombs, the La Mon atrocity, the murder of over 300 RUC officers or the almost 1,000 military personnel killed by terrorists.

“Given the litany of unsolved murders from 1969 to the present day it is not as if the Police were limited in their choice of potential investigations. Having witnessed the recent decisions to arrest paratroopers who were present on Bloody Sunday in 1972 and to stage yet another inquiry into the 1987 Loughgall operation when eight fully armed terrorists died, many people are bemused as to just how and why these decisions are taken. 

“Given that the MRF allegations were first raised in a BBC Spotlight programme, many people could be forgiven for wondering if the decision to mount inquiries or investigations is based on the criteria of state involvement and level of media interest. This is no way to run a justice system or maintain public confidence.”

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