'Assurances' given to victim's father

13 January 2010
Belfast News Letter

The father of a UVF murder victim has met Assistant Chief Constable Drew Harris and officers from the Historical Enquiries Team (HET) to discuss his concerns about the handing over of Operation Ballast to the PSNI.

Operation Ballast, an investigation carried out by former Police Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan, was launched in January 2007, examining claims of collusion between RUC handlers and UVF agents.

The investigation was initiated in 2002 after a complaint by Raymond McCord, whose son Raymond Jnr was murdered by the UVF in 1997. To date, the HET has charged more than a dozen men with serious crimes, including murder. Just before Christmas it was revealed the investigation is being transferred to the PSNI's serious crime branch, headed up by ACC Harris.

Mr McCord had asked for the meeting because he was concerned that there may be people within the PSNI still seeking to cover up what went on with informers in the UVF and other paramilitary groups. But, speaking after the meeting, Mr McCord said he had been reassured that those behind his son's killing and other murders would continue to be pursued.

He said: "I explained that some Special Branch officers who were junior at the time of my son's murder are now very senior within the PSNI, but assurances were given to me that there would be no Special Branch involvement in any of the cases and that they would be carried out by the PSNI working with the HET."

Mr McCord said he was now satisfied people would be brought to book. "There's a timetable in place for the handover, but the HET are still heavily involved and the people that I trust in the HET explained what the need was for PSNI involvement and I accept that – I know the HET won't tell me lies," he said. "It has put my mind at rest to a great extent, but the proof of the pudding will be how the PSNI carry this forward. "I believe there will be more arrests and I believe eventually people will be charged with my son's murder."

Last night, a PSNI spokesman said yesterday's meeting was "positive". He added: "A range of issues were discussed and it was agreed that contact would be maintained through a number of mechanisms in the months ahead.

"ACC Harris repeated the Police Service's determination to deploy whatever resources were necessary to ensure those responsible for serious crimes were brought before the courts, and that the investigation would be subject to appropriate oversight and accountability."