British Government barriers to finding truth behind UDA sectarian murder

THE INQUEST into the UDA murder of north Belfast postal worker Daniel McColgan in January 2002 has run into a number of incredible difficulties. There has been revelations that key forensic evidence has 'gone missing', the British Government is restricting the scope of essential documents sought by the family from the PSNI and British Army/Ministry of Defence, those that have been handed over are heavily redacted, and a UDA member who said he had information about the murder was arrested but not questioned.

The inquest also heard that an RUC Special Branch officer involved in the McColgan investigation has been investigated by the Police Ombudsman over allegations of conspiracy to murder and perverting the course of justice in another case not connected to the McColgan killing.

The inquest heard that one of the guns used to kill the 20-year-old father of one belonged to a member of the British Army's Royal Irish Regiment, formerly the Ulster Defence Regiment.

Evidence was given that the Beretta 9mm pistol was stolen during a robbery at a school in Newtownards in 1999.

The information came from retired PSNI officer Roy Suitters (who led the investigation into the McColgan killing) while under cross-examination by the family's barrister, Andrew Moriarty.

The inquest also heard that bullet casings from the weapons used had 'gone missing' after they were sent to England for forensic examination.

The family's legal team is facing further difficulties as they try to establish the facts around the killing, which was carried out by the UDA.

The British Government has issued Public Interest Immunity Certificates to the PSNI and British Ministry of Defence which deny the lawyers for the family of the murdered man access to information relevant to the case which both might have. Many of the documents that the family has been given are heavily redacted.

The family's barrister explained that “intelligence documents” referred to McColgan being “set up” while others referred to his “shift pattern being passed on”.

There are also questions about how the PSNI dealt with UDA member Stephen McCullough.

McCullough was found dead, in mysterious circumstances, at the bottom of Cavehill Mountain, in north Belfast, on 16 January, hours after he was released from PSNI custody.

McCullough is said to have contacted a member of the Royal Irish Regiment and offered to provide information about the McColgan killing to the PSNI before being arrested under the pretext of a drink-driving offence. McCullough then left the barracks without being questioned about the McColgan killing!

The suspicion that the UDA had someone inside in Newtownabbey PSNI barracks is a strong one. Speaking in January 2002, Sinn Féin's Gerry Kelly asked:

“Did the RUC/PSNI or RIR alert the UDA to the fact that this man had offered to supply information? 

“If this turns out to be the case, then it also raises questions about Mr McCullough's death and the possibility that he was killed by the UDA. If so, the spectre of collusion between the crown forces and the UDA raises its ugly head and makes the PSNI/RUC and the RIR accessories to his death.”