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(Liam Clarke, Belfast Telegraph)

The PSNI may be forced to release details of its investigation into the Mount Vernon UVF to Jeff Dudgeon, a human rights and Ulster Unionist Party activist. Earlier this year efforts to prosecute Mark Haddock, the leader of the UVF unit, and several alleged members of the group on some charges failed. Their activities have been surrounded by claims of police collusion and cover-up, some of which were sustained in a report by former Police Ombudsman Dame Nuala O'Loan. Mr Dudgeon is demanding details of a deal to release information to victims including Raymond McCord, whose son was murdered by the UVF.

Dame Nuala and Richard Harvey, a barrister, have been meeting detectives every eight weeks as part of what has been described as an "oversight" process. Mr Dudgeon is bringing his case through the Information Tribunal after being refused disclosure.

He said the Harvey/O'Loan arrangement was "an unwise political fix" and accused the PSNI of trying to cover it up.

This article appeared in the December 11, 2012 edition of the Belfast Telegraph.

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