Man compensated for undercover RUC raid

A man who was drinking in a pub raided by undercover RUC officers in 1997 was yesterday awarded compensation, it has emerged.

A man who was drinking in a pub raided by undercover RUC officers in 1997 was yesterday awarded compensation, it has emerged.

Mr Gary McMahon, from Old Portadown Road, claimed to have suffered post-traumatic stress disorder after the incident in the Derryhirk Inn near Lurgan Co Armagh in March 1997.

The amount the RUC agreed to pay Mr McMahon was not disclosed when his case was settled in the High Court in Belfast.

During the incident RUC officers opened fire in the car park beforebursting into the bar.

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It was claimed the officers were dressed in paramilitary style uniforms and did not identify themselves.

The bar was packed and over 80 customers have lodged compensation claims against the RUC. It was believed Mr McMahon's case was the first to be settled.

A few days after the incident the RUC announced they had found anumber ofguns.

The IRA admitted the guns belonged to them but said they had beenburied in acompletely different area.

The Independent Commission for Police Complaints oversaw an RUCinvestigation into the incident.

The Director of Public Prosecutions later announced that none of the RUC officers involved was being prosecutedbecause there was "insufficient evidence"to afford a reasonable prospect of conviction.

PA