This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/7069098.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
No evidence of murder 'collusion' No evidence of murder 'collusion'
(about 3 hours later)
There is no evidence of collusion in the murder of two Catholic brothers in 1993, the Police Ombudsman has said.There is no evidence of collusion in the murder of two Catholic brothers in 1993, the Police Ombudsman has said.
However, Nuala O'Loan said the RUC inquiry was "unacceptably flawed" and cut short after three months.However, Nuala O'Loan said the RUC inquiry was "unacceptably flawed" and cut short after three months.
Ulster Volunteer Force gunmen shot Gerard Cairns, 22, and his brother Rory, 18, in the family home at Bleary, near Lurgan, County Armagh.Ulster Volunteer Force gunmen shot Gerard Cairns, 22, and his brother Rory, 18, in the family home at Bleary, near Lurgan, County Armagh.
Mrs O'Loan upheld a complaint by the men's father that police failed to conduct a thorough investigation.Mrs O'Loan upheld a complaint by the men's father that police failed to conduct a thorough investigation.
She also said Special Branch had not passed on all relevant intelligence to officers investigating the murders.She also said Special Branch had not passed on all relevant intelligence to officers investigating the murders.
No-one has ever been convicted in connection with the murders which, the Ombudsman pointed out, happened in one of the bloodiest weeks of "the Troubles".No-one has ever been convicted in connection with the murders which, the Ombudsman pointed out, happened in one of the bloodiest weeks of "the Troubles".
A total of 23 people died in a series of attacks which included the IRA Shankill Bombing and Greysteel Massacre.A total of 23 people died in a series of attacks which included the IRA Shankill Bombing and Greysteel Massacre.
The Cairns family claimed the Royal Ulster Constabulary - precursor of the PSNI - and Army had prior knowledge of the attack.The Cairns family claimed the Royal Ulster Constabulary - precursor of the PSNI - and Army had prior knowledge of the attack.
The family said they had allowed a clear path for the murderers through what they believed to have been an unusually high level of security force activity in the area.The family said they had allowed a clear path for the murderers through what they believed to have been an unusually high level of security force activity in the area.
Mrs O'Loan said: "There is nothing to suggest that the security forces colluded in the brutal murders of Gerard and Rory.Mrs O'Loan said: "There is nothing to suggest that the security forces colluded in the brutal murders of Gerard and Rory.
"There is no evidence that the police had any advance warning, that they knew Gerard and Rory would be targeted and no evidence that they could have prevented the attack."There is no evidence that the police had any advance warning, that they knew Gerard and Rory would be targeted and no evidence that they could have prevented the attack.
"This was a purely sectarian attack.""This was a purely sectarian attack."
She said "much good work" was done in the initial stages of the investigation, but that "within three months it had been stripped of resources and had effectively ground to a halt".She said "much good work" was done in the initial stages of the investigation, but that "within three months it had been stripped of resources and had effectively ground to a halt".
The Ombudsman expressed "grave concern" the RUC had begun to wind down the investigation within just two weeks of the killings.The Ombudsman expressed "grave concern" the RUC had begun to wind down the investigation within just two weeks of the killings.
The victims' father, Eamon Cairns, said the family's "search for the truth seems no closer".
"It seems hard to believe that a professional and highly experienced police force could be accused of this high degree of incompetence," he said.
"This report implicitly casts further suspicions that there was collusion."