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Dublin: 15 °C Sunday 19 May, 2013

Troubles killings “cannot be reinvestigated”

The killings cannot be investigated by the police ombudsman’s office as they have already been investigated by the police.

Northern Ireland's police ombudsman, Al Hutchinson
Northern Ireland's police ombudsman, Al Hutchinson
Image: Paul Faith/PA Wire/Press Association Images

A NUMBER OF killings that occurred during the Troubles cannot be reinvestigated, the BBC is reporting.

It says the killings, where RUC officers were the perpetrators, are “caught in legal limbo”.

This is due to the fact the ombudsman’s office cannot conduct new investigations into the killings because they have been previously investigated by the police.

The Historical Enquiries Team reports to the chief constable and under European law, this means it is not allowed to investigate cases that involve killings by officers in the police force, the BBC explains.

The killings cannot be reexamined unless new evidence is found.

According to today’s edition of the Irish News, this applies to nearly 50 killings, including the deaths of IRA members Eugene Toman, Gervaise McKerr and Sean Burns.

Read more on BBC News>

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