The British Ministry of Defence (MoD) and Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) were today ordered to produce uncensored documents about the deaths of 10 people killed in controversial circumstances in the North.
Dungannon coroner Roger McLernon ruled censored papers he had received from the security forces were relevant to the inquests and told them he wished to seethe complete versions within three weeks.
He made his ruling at the 12th preliminary hearing of the inquests into the murders of Catholic pensioner Roseanne Mallon, Jack and Kevin McKearney and sevenIRA men who were shot dead by the SAS in Co Tyrone in the early 1990s.
The MoD and PSNI have argued at previous hearings that a High Court ruling may be required to gain access to unedited documents as some of the material issensitive.
But legal teams representing the relatives of the deceased have insisted the coroner must have access to all the documents relating to the deaths in a completely unedited form to do his job.
Mr McLernon told today's hearing that if he received the unedited documentation within the 21 days he would ensure it was reproduced and distributed amongst the families.
He then adjourned the hearing until October 7, by which date he said he should either have all the documentation, or find out if the security forces wished tocontest his decision.
PA