THE families of the alleged murder victims of the Loyalist Glenanne Gang squad are still awaiting justice, after a High Court hearing in Belfast was adjourned.
Some 120 civilians were allegedly murdered by the gang during the Troubles and the relatives of some of the deceased were in the North last week for a judicial review of the case.
That has now been adjourned until June 19, meaning they have another five week wait in their attempts to get justice.
The British Government, the families allege, failed to protect those murdered and effectively investigate their deaths.
The gang - which allegedly included rogue members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary and the Ulster Defence Regiment - was based at Glenanne farm, from which they took their nickname, and are accused of being involved in 120 murders between 1972 and 1980 – though most of the cases were never proven to be the gang’s work.
Yasmine Ahmed, director of Rights Watch (UK), the organisation leading the case, said: “The families of the victims have been let down by the failure to properly investigate and hold accountable those responsible for the deaths.”
“The UK Government has completed 80 per cent of the report that investigates expensive and systemic state collusion in relation to the Glenanne Gang murders and is now citing financial and other considerations as the reason for not completing and publishing the report.”
“This is completely farcical and places the United Kingdom in a category of countries that it usually cites in its ‘countries of concern’ section of its Annual Human Rights and Democracy report.”
The case will continue from June 19 – with the 50 relatives of the alleged victims of the Glenanne Gang hoping for a positive outcome from the proceedings.
“It is vital that the state upholds its international and domestic obligations to conduct an effective investigation,” Ms Ahmed added.
