Relatives of an IRA man killed during an attempted bomb attack in 1987 say the RUC handed over responsibility for the ambush to the SAS.
Patrick Kelly, leader of an IRA unit in east Tyrone, died when the SAS opened fire at Loughgall police station. Eight IRA men were shot dead. Mr Anthony Hughes, a civilian unconnected with the incident, was also hit and killed.
Yesterday, the dead IRA man's sisters held a meeting with Mr Hugh Orde, the chief constable, at PSNI headquarters. Afterwards Ms Maireád Kelly claimed: "We were under the belief that this was a RUC operation and today it has been clarified to us that it wasn't an RUC operation, it had actually been handed over to the SAS," she said. "This changes our perspective on things which means it was an army operation and now we have to start going down that road to find out the truth." The sisters want a meeting with the British Ministry of Defence, which Mr Orde may help facilitate.
The IRA man's other sister, Róisín, said: "Everybody knows around the world that the SAS go in to kill, they don't go in to arrest." Relatives of the dead IRA men have constantly questioned why the men were shot dead and not arrested. In 2001 the European Court found that their right to life had been violated.
Previous chief constables have declined to meet the relatives Amid unionist anger Mr Orde agreed to a meeting yesterday.
His spokeswoman said: "The Kellys raised a number of issues with the chief constable. He in turn offered his assessment of the decision made at the time to deploy the army against what he termed a dangerous gang. "Much of the discussion centred on the need to find a process whereby everybody can seek to tell their story and which would go some way to finding answers to the questions they have." Ulster Unionist peer, Lord Maginnis, said: "We have had multi-millions of pounds spent on an inquiry into Bloody Sunday in Derry city. We are now having this move by the chief constable. Does this mean that he is going to see every family of every terrorist who was killed over the years?" Mr Ian Paisley junior of the DUP said: "Hugh Orde has taken leave of his senses."