Stevens backs McCord killing collusion claim

Lord Stevens, the retired senior policeman who investigated collusion cases in Northern Ireland, has backed a campaign for justice for a Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) murder victim. He said there was “clear evidence of collusion” in the 1997 killing of Raymond McCord in Newtownabbey. The former Metropolitan Police Commissioner made his comments in a letter to the victim's father, Raymond McCord Snr. Mr McCord fought a long battle to expose the role of a police informer in the UVF murder gang that killed his son. His allegations were vindicated in a 2007 report by Police Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan. In his letter Lord Stevens warmly praised Mrs O'Loan's investigation of the case. He also commended Mr McCord's efforts “in the face of all the obstacles placed in your path and the very real threats to your life by paramilitaries”. The... [read full story]                    

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