THE PSNI chief constable is to meet relatives of the 15 people who died in the 1971 UVF bombing of McGurk’s pub following a storm of criticism of his response to the Police Ombudsman’s report on the atrocity.
Matt Baggott’s office confirmed last night that a meeting was being organised with the relatives who are angry at the lack of a police apology over the mishandling of the case, despite Police Ombudsman Al Hutchinson’s call for them to do so.
Mr Hutchinson’s investigators found the original RUC investigation of the pub bombing was badly compromised by “investigative bias”. Detectives in 1971 concentrated too heavily on the theory that the outrage was an IRA “own-goal”, despite substantial evidence that it was a loyalist attack.
Chris McGurk, who lost three relatives in the bombing, condemned the chief constable for failing to follow Mr Hutchinson’s recommendation. “If David Cameron, the prime minister, can apologise in relation to Bloody Sunday, then it should not be beyond Mr Baggott to apologise in this instance,” Mr McGurk said.
Sinn Féin has already demanded that Mr Baggott meet the relatives to explain his response to the publication of the ombudsman’s report. Junior minister Gerry Kelly said: “What the families deserved from the chief constable was an apology. What they got was a chief constable trying to defend the indefensible in refusing to accept the evidence of investigative bias by the RUC.”
The SDLP raised the issue in the Assembly yesterday, echoing claims by human rights groups that the chief constable’s stance had damaged the PSNI.
North Belfast SDLP Assembly member Alban Maginness accused the chief constable of being badly advised by “whoever penned that statement”.
Last night Mr Hutchinson’s spokesman said: “We have accepted that the scene of the bombing was chaotic . . . But there is no question that the RUC and others [the British army] briefed government and media that it was an IRA bomb. This was despite claims from a loyalist grouping, despite eyewitness evidence, despite pathologist’s evidence, despite forensic evidence and despite the fact that there was scant evidence that it was the IRA.
“In the investigation of crime, favouring one theory rather than keeping an open mind is referred to as ‘investigative bias’ and that’s what happened.”
The Police Ombudsman’s office did not refer to Mr Baggott’s statement yesterday, but it is understood that his comments provoked some surprise.
It is further understood that this relates to the chief constable’s claim that “there appear to be no further investigative opportunities available. At present all lines of inquiry have been exhausted but we will discuss any future opportunities with the ombudsman”.
The PSNI has denied that Mr Baggott’s comments meant the investigation was closed.