A High Court order compelling the north’s Chief Constable to complete an overarching investigation into suspected state collusion in the notorious Glenanne Gang’s killing spree throughout the 1970’s has been widely welcomed.
Mr Justice Treacy issued an “Order of Mandamus” ruling on Tuesday last that compels the police to follow the order of the court and complete the probe into the loyalist unit which was responsible for up to 120 murders in nearly 90 incidents in the Mid Ulster and Irish border areas. The gang were behind the murders of the Reavey brothers in Whitecross in January 1976 and the bombing of Donnelly’s Bar in Silverbridge which killed three people, one of which was a 14 year old boy. It has also been linked to the murder of 33 people, including a pregnant woman, in the 1974 Dublin and Monaghan bombings.
The murder gang, based at a farm in Glenanne, allegedly contained members of the RUC and the UDR.
Setting out the ruling on Tuesday, Justice Treacy said victims’ families were languishing “with no end in sight and the ever increasing realisation that nothing much may happen in their lifetime.”
In July this year he ruled that police had unlawfully frustrated any chance of a full and effective investigation into suspected state collusion with the Glenanne Gang.
Following his original ruling, the High Court judge was urged to make an order of mandamus compelling the Chief Constable to conduct a lawful investigation, and complete and publish an overarching thematic report – despite arguments from Counsel for the Chief Constable that it would be an unnecessary step to force police to finalise a comprehensive report he claimed had yielded no new investigative opportunities.
Mr Treacy was advised that the PSNI is set to appeal his judgment, with no steps taken to implement his substantive findings.
“No good reasons having been established in this case, I thus consider that mandamus is appropriate,” he confirmed on Tuesday.
He added that delays which the victims’ families believe are detrimental to addressing their principal unresolved concerns had undermined their confidence in the justice system.
“In the meantime witnesses or potential witnesses are lost and family members of the deceased die without any closure or resolution,” said Justice Treacy.
Solicitor Darragh Mackin described the ruling as a “landmark decision for the families of the Glenanne gang in their pursuit of justice” and he urged the Chief Constable to put in place the mechanisms for such an independent investigation without any further delay.”
Eugene Reavey, brother of the three men murdered by the Glenanne Gang in their Whitecross home in January 1976, said it was a “big day for us” and for all the legacy cases.
Speaking after the ruling SDLP MLA Justin McNulty said the families’ campaign has been frustrated “not least of all by leadership of the PSNI.”
“That cannot continue,” he added.
“This ruling by Mr Justice Treacy must be respected and acted upon by the PSNI. There should be no further attempt to frustrate effective investigations or waste precious public resources on further appeals which only seek to deny justice.”