Vernon Coaker – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Vernon Coaker on 2016-06-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps she plans to take in response to the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland’s statutory report into the murders at the Heights Bar, Loughinisland on 18 June 1994, published on 9 June 2016; and if she will make a statement.

Mrs Theresa Villiers

What happened at Loughinisland in June 1994 was an act of unspeakable evil, for which there could be no possible justification. The whole House will want to pass on its heartfelt condolences and sympathies to those affected by this appalling atrocity.

The Government accepts the Police Ombudsman’s Report and the Chief Constable’s response. We take any allegations of police misconduct very seriously and where there is evidence of wrongdoing it must be pursued – everyone is subject to the rule of law.

The Report is also very clear, however, that those responsible for this despicable attack were the UVF terrorist gang who planned it and carried it out. Nor did the police have prior knowledge of the attack which could have enabled them to prevent it.

The Chief Constable made clear in his report; “The PSNI remains firmly committed to apprehending those responsible for these murders and appeal to the community for information to allow us to do so.”

On behalf of the Government I echo that commitment and that appeal.