Sinn Fein has called on the Northern Secretary, Dr Mo Mowlam, to respond urgently to reports that the RUC did not immediately inform over 150 people that their names were on a suspected loyalist hit-list and researched the document for almost three months before contacting those named.
A man appeared in Belfast Magistrates' Court on February 26th, charged with possession of the document, which contained personal details of more than 150 nationalists and republicans. Police have confirmed it is likely the document would be "of use" to loyalist paramilitaries.
Ms Bairbre de Brun, Sinn Fein spokeswoman on policing, yesterday called for the personal intervention of Dr Mowlam and said the incident was an example of RUC collusion with loyalists.
"The revelation that the RUC deliberately withheld information for two months from 150 nationalists and republicans when their lives were in danger from loyalists requires an urgent response from Mo Mowlam," said Ms de Brun.
Mr Gerard Rice, a spokesman for the residents' association on the Lower Ormeau Road, has claimed he was informed on Monday that his name was on the list and accused the RUC of putting his life in danger. He has also demanded to know if the name of Ms Rosemary Nelson is in the document. "I was told by the police on Monday that my personal details were in the hands of loyalists but they refused to give me any more information. They just told me that I should change my routine," said Mr Rice.
An RUC spokesman said the "extensive list" had to be fully researched in terms of its "currency and accuracy" before people were notified. There was no indication that an attack on anyone was imminent "or actively being planned" beyond the actual stage of collation of the material, he added.
"If at any stage in this research there had been any reason to fear imminent attacks upon the people concerned, immediate steps would, of course, have been taken. This was not, and is not, the case," he said.
Sinn Fein Assembly member Mr Alex Maskey said claims by the RUC that the information had to be verified is nonsense as the individual had already been charged on the basis of the content of the dossier.
"If any of those named on this hit-list had been targeted or killed, would the RUC have admitted they were aware of the fact that the individual was under threat? I don't think so," he added.