Sinn Féin Policing Spokesperson Gerry Kelly said today that the PSNI Chief Constable needs to explain why he continues to obstruct the disclosure of information to victims’ families.

Gerry Kelly was speaking after a coroner in a Belfast court dismissed an application by the PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher and the British Secretary of State to prevent a summary of a state intelligence file being produced in the inquest of Paul ‘Topper’ Thompson.   

The North Belfast MLA said:

“Why are successive PSNI Chief Constables still fighting against disclosure of the truth to victim’s families? 

“The present Chief Constable speaks publicly about bringing truth to families. Yet he tried, in Court yesterday, to prevent a coroner even allowing the ‘gist’ of a State intelligence file being produced in the inquest of Paul ‘Topper’ Thompson. 

“This time, thankfully, the judge dismissed the application, by the Chief Constable and the British Secretary of State, on all grounds.

“Bearing in mind that a ‘gist’ is only a summary of the file’s content, it is disgraceful that the PSNI, 25 years after its formation, is still refusing to disclose information about RUC actions a generation ago.

“Even after the introduction of the British government’s shameless Legacy Act was brought into law, which has reduced the number of legacy inquests now running down to a handful, will the Chief Constable explain why he continues to obstruct information going to victims’ families?”