DUP MP Gregory Campbell has been criticised for saying eight IRA men who were killed during a 1987 attack on a Co Armagh RUC station deserved to die.
Mr Campbell made his comments as a report into the attack was due to be delivered to relatives of the dead men and to the family of Anthony Hughes, a passer-by who was caught up in the gunfire.
The East Derry MP's claim was criticised by Sinn Féin's Barry McElduff whose wife’s brother, Patrick Kelly (30) from Dungannon, Co Tyrone, was among those dead by the soldiers.
The West Tyrone MLA described Mr Campbell’s comments as “gloating” and unacceptable.
“The men killed at Loughgall were victims of a British government policy of shoot-to-kill. Nobody believes that the British Army unit were sent into Loughgall that evening to arrest anybody," Mr McElduff said.
“They were sent there to kill the IRA unit and that is what they did. If the HET try and put forward a different theory, it will say more about that group’s credibility than anything else.
“The families of those killed at Loughgall deserve the truth. They do not deserve continuing cover-up and concealment by the British government or by the HET."
The Belfast Telegraph reported today that the historical enquiries team will claim that the IRA men could not have been safely arrested and the soldiers were within their rights to open fire.
A spokesman for the HET said she could not comment on the report because they were working with the families on a confidential basis.
The eight men belonged to the East Tyrone brigade, one of the most feared IRA units, which was heavily involved in a series of attacks on police and soldiers at the time, especially in areas close to the border.
PA