Sinn Féin today challenged the Police Service of Northern Ireland to release forensic details of weapons used in recent loyalist gun attacks including the murder of Mr Gerard Lawlor.
North Belfast councillor Mr Eoin O'Broin called for the forensic history to be made public because of suspicions they were "linked" to the bitter feud two years ago between Johnny Adair's Ulster Freedom Fighters and the rival loyalist Ulster Volunteer Force in west Belfast.
Mr Gerard Lawlor, a 19-year-old father-of-one, was shot dead on July 21st in the Whitewell area after a series of shootings in north Belfast, sparked by a republican gun attack on a loyalist along the peaceline in Ardoyne.
Councillor O'Broin today criticised the Police Service of Northern Ireland for continuing its predecessor, the Royal Ulster Constabulary's policy of not releasing forensic details.
Noting reports that the gun was used during the loyalist feud in August 2000, the Sinn Féin councillor said: "Nationalists have a right to know who is behind these attacks and where they are emanating from. The forensic history of these weapons will tell us.
"I will be writing to the British minister Mr Jane Kennedy and the Irish Government pressing them to release the forensic histories of the weapons used in recent attacks upon the nationalist community by the loyalist gangs as it appears the PSNI are intending to suppress the information," he said.