THE RUC has released an author who claims he was once part of an SAS death squad and has described the book he wrote as a work of fiction".
The man, who used the alias Peter Bruce to publish The Nemesis File the true story of an execution squad, was released without charge yesterday.
He had been arrested at his home in England on the previous day and brought to Belfast by RUC officers.
In a statement the RUC said it had been making inquiries, for some time into the serious criminal offences alleged in the book, which was published last autumn.
It was because of the seriousness of these allegations that the author was arrested under the Prevention of Terrorism Act.
"Inquiries into this matter have now been contained rid we are satisfied that the allegations contained in the book are not time in fact or substance and this includes an assertion that the author was at some time a member of the Special Air Service Regiment," said the statement.
The RUC is satisfied that he" had not been conceded, either directly or indirectly in the commission of any serious criminal offence while serving in Northern. Ireland from February to June 1972. According to the statement, he served as a vehicle mechanic with the Royal Electrical and Mechanics Engineers.
"The RUC consider the book as a work of fiction and accordingly the investigation is now closed," the statement concluded.
However, the book's publishers, Blake Publishing, said they stand by the claims made in the book. Publisher, Mr John Blake, said the truth would eventually come out.