By Jack Holland
The following are brief descriptions of outside investigations of the RUC and outside involvement in RUC investigations:
€ Aug. 26, 1969: The Hunt Committee set up to look into the reform of the RUC. It recommends among other things that the force be disarmed and its paramilitary wing, the B-Specials dissolved. Following their implementation, riots erupt in the loyalist Shankill Road. Three die, including RUC officer Victor Arbuckle.
€ March 1971: Scotland Yard detectives sent to Belfast to aid RUC in investigation of the murder of three off-duty Scottish soldiers. No charges result.
€ Aug. 31, 1971 to February 1972: Following allegations of ill-treatment of internees, Compton Committee set up. Its report in November revealed use of sensory deprivation techniques on a select group of prisoners. A subsequent report written by Lord Gardiner found in February 1972 that the methods were illegal but no charges were ever brought.
€ March 16, 1979: Bennett inquiry into allegations of mistreatment of suspects at Castlereagh Holding Center published. Recommends installation of close-circuit televisions in interview rooms.
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€ May 1984: John Stalker and a team of West Midlands detectives arrive to investigate shoot-to-kill allegations against RUC. Two years later Stalker is removed from inquiry and replaced by West Yorkshire Chief Constable Colin Sampson. On Jan. 25, 1988 Stalker says there was no "official policy" to kill terrorist suspects. But Stalker-Sampson report is never made public.
€ Sept. 14, 1989: Deputy Chief Constable of Cambridgeshire John Stevens appointed to investigate alleged leaks of intelligence documents to loyalist paramilitaries. On Jan. 20, 1990, Brian Nelson, a UDA man who was providing information to the British army intelligence, arrested as a result of Stevens inquiry. On May 17, 1990, Stevens publishes a report that says that though collusion has occurred, it is "restricted to a small number of members of the security forces and is neither widespread nor institutionalized." Ten UDR men are charged as a result of the investigation.
€ Spring 1993: A second Stevens investigation begins. Report forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions in early 1994. In 1995 it is announced there will be no prosecutions as a result of inquiry.
€ Summer 1998: Patten International Commission on Policing set up under the auspices of the Good Friday peace agreement to look at reforms of the RUC.
€ March 17, 1999: RUC Chief Constable Ronnie Flanagan announces FBI involvement in investigation into murder of human rights lawyer Rosemary Nelson. As well, officers from several English police forces are sent to aid the RUC in the inquiry under the command of Colin Port Deputy Chief Constable of Norfolk Constabulary.
€ Spring 1999: John Stevens arrives to launch a fresh investigation into the murder of Patrick Finucane.