The families of six men gunned down by loyalists 12 years ago as they watched a World Cup match in a bar are to lobby British MPs to investigate claims of security force collusion.
Relatives of the six victims of the June 1994 Loughinisland massacre in Co Down will join Sinn Fein Assembly member Caitriona Ruane tomorrow at Westminster to urge a cross-party delegation of MPs to advance their case.
The delegation will meet Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary David Liddington, Labour MP Jeremy Corbyn, Liberal Democrat Northern Ireland spokesperson Lembit Opik and members of the Northern Ireland Select Committee.
In advance of the visit, Ms Ruane said the families had waited patiently for justice for 12 years. "As the years have gone on, the families have began to raise serious questions about the murders and specifically the subsequent investigation into it," the South Down MLA said. "Tomorrow's meetings will provide an opportunity for the families to put their case onto the British political agenda.
"Sinn Fein will continue to support the families of those murdered at Loughinisland in their campaign for the truth about what happened on that night 12 years ago. "The British Government need to realise that issue will not go away.
"The killings at Loughinisland had a deep impact on people across this island and the revelations of British involvement and cover-up have provoked much anger." In June, relatives of the six victims of the Ulster Volunteer Force massacre, were disturbed by recent claims that a police agent supplied the car used in the sectarian attack.
Emma Rogan, who was eight when her 34-year-old father Adrian, a scrap metal collector, was shot dead said: "We want to know how high does this collusion go. "I want to know how high did it go. It's been hard. My mother and my family have been there for me but I feel cheated.
"Six innocent men who did not do anybody wrong in their lives were wiped off the face of the earth because somebody said go and do it. We want to know why."
The victims were watching the Republic beat Italy in the 1994 USA World Cup when they were attacked. They came from Loughinisland, Ballynahinch, Drumaness, and Downpatrick.
They were Adrian Rogan, 39-year-old Eamon Byrne, who was married with four children, his brother-in-law Patsy O'Hare, who was 35 and a single man, 59-year-old Dan McCreanor, a single farmer, his uncle Barney Green, an 87-year-old retired pig farmer who was married, and 54-year-old Malcolm Jenkinson, a building contractor who was married with three children.
Earlier this year the families, through their solicitors, formally complained to Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan about serious flaws in the police investigation.
In particular, the families are concerned about the loss of potentially vital forensic evidence and the decision by the police to destroy the UVF's getaway car, a red Honda Triumph, in 1996.
They also expressed concerns about recent claims that a police agent codenamed Mechanic was believed to have supplied the car. The relatives also have called for a investigation into the link between the Czech-made VZ rifle used in the attack and the arms shipment brought to Northern Ireland from South Africa by loyalists, including Ulster Defence Association member and British agent Brian Nelson.
The Loughinisland Justice Group published a six-page leaflet outlining the reasons for their campaign and containing 10 portraits of the six victims. They also launched a telephone number and email address for information relating to the case.