Sir, – The BBC Panorama programme of November 20th reported that a special British army unit, the Military Reaction Force (MRF), had been given approval to kill "real or suspected IRA members regardless of whether they were armed" (Home News, November 22nd). The Panorama programme reported how some members of this unit were alleged to have killed two men, neither of whom had paramilitary connections, in a drive-by shooting.
It was claimed in the programme by former members of this unit that they had high command permission to operate outside the law and carry out summary executions. Your report also stated that the North’s director of public prosecutions has asked the PSNI chief constable to investigate what amounted to a shoot-to-kill policy in Northern Ireland in 1972.
In 1984, following a string of allegations about security force shoot-to-kill policy in Northern Ireland, the British government set up an inquiry headed up by the deputy chief constable of Greater Manchester police John Stalker. In 1986 just before Mr Stalker was due to present his final report to government, he was removed from his position in charge of the inquiry on the basis of false allegations that he associated with known criminals.
This inquiry was then taken over by Colin Sampson of the West Yorkshire police. The findings by both Stalker and Sampson have never been made public. This current call from the North’s DPP Barra McGrory for the PSNI chief constable Matt Baggott to initiate an investigation into the claims by the MRF must be viewed with cynicism. – Yours, etc,
TOM COOPER,
Templeville Road,
Templeogue,
Dublin 6W.