GETTING AWAY WITH MURDER
GETTING AWAY WITH MURDER
By ALAN MURRAY
DUP fury over two per cent clear-up rate in the 49 republican killings since Good Friday Agreement
CRIMINAL charges have been brought in relation to only one murder committed by republicans, in the six years since the Good Friday Agreement was signed.
Despite republicans being blamed for 49 murders, since 1998, detectives have only managed to charge one man.
That figure includes the 29 people who were killed in the Omagh bomb outrage.
Of the total of 55 killings attributed to loyalists, charges have been brought in relation to 18 murders - around one-third of the total.
As Sunday Life revealed, last week, a total of 107 people have been murdered, since the signing of the Agreement.
There have also been more than 1,500 shootings, and more than 900 bombings.
Last week, the PSNI's statistics branch confirmed that charges had been brought in relation to only one of the killings attributed to republicans.
But police said they weren't able to identify the killing the charge related to, without further research.
The shock figures have angered unionists.
Upper Bann MP, Jeffrey Donaldson, said the detection rate was "extremely concerning".
He said: "We're talking about charges in less than 2pc of republican murders, and in 33pc of loyalist murders.
"One has to question why there is such a glaring differential in the detection i rate, or indictment rate.
"There seems to be much more vigour evident in the pursuit of loyalist killers, and a softly/softly approach to trapping republican killers.
"I sincerely hope this isn't part of some political policy to turn a blind eye to IRA killings."
By ALAN MURRAY
DUP fury over two per cent clear-up rate in the 49 republican killings since Good Friday Agreement
CRIMINAL charges have been brought in relation to only one murder committed by republicans, in the six years since the Good Friday Agreement was signed.
Despite republicans being blamed for 49 murders, since 1998, detectives have only managed to charge one man.
That figure includes the 29 people who were killed in the Omagh bomb outrage.
Of the total of 55 killings attributed to loyalists, charges have been brought in relation to 18 murders - around one-third of the total.
As Sunday Life revealed, last week, a total of 107 people have been murdered, since the signing of the Agreement.
There have also been more than 1,500 shootings, and more than 900 bombings.
Last week, the PSNI's statistics branch confirmed that charges had been brought in relation to only one of the killings attributed to republicans.
But police said they weren't able to identify the killing the charge related to, without further research.
The shock figures have angered unionists.
Upper Bann MP, Jeffrey Donaldson, said the detection rate was "extremely concerning".
He said: "We're talking about charges in less than 2pc of republican murders, and in 33pc of loyalist murders.
"One has to question why there is such a glaring differential in the detection i rate, or indictment rate.
"There seems to be much more vigour evident in the pursuit of loyalist killers, and a softly/softly approach to trapping republican killers.
"I sincerely hope this isn't part of some political policy to turn a blind eye to IRA killings."
Further Information
Publisher: SUNDAY LIFE
Ref: SL/170
Published Date: 04-Apr-04
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