Former RUC chief Hugh Annesley denies giving order not to investigate 'planning and control' of Coagh ambush

FORMER RUC Chief Constable Hugh Annesley has denied ordering police not to investigate the "planning and control" of a British army ambush during which three IRA men were killed.

Three IRA volunteers were executed by the SAS shoot-to-kill operation in the 1991 Coagh ambush 

                 23rd January, 2023. 

Sir Hugh, who served as chief constable between 1989 and 1996, made the claim in a statement read on Friday during an inquest into the deaths of the three IRA members.

Pete Ryan, Lawrence McNally and Tony Doris were shot dead in the village of Coagh, Co Tyrone, in June 1991 in an operation believed to involve the SAS.

It is understood the IRA unit was planning to shoot a UDR member when the ambush was launched.

An inquest into the deaths of the three men opened last September.

At a subsequent hearing retired Detective Superintendent George Samuel Christy, who investigated the killings, revealed he was instructed not to question soldiers on how the military operation was put together.

During the hearing in October the coroner, Mr Justice Humphreys, questioned Mr Christy on his evidence.

The former RUC officer agreed that "one of the allegations might be that there was an agreement or plan in advance to kill these IRA operatives".

"You will have realised that was an issue," the coroner said.

"But the evidence you have given me today is that you weren't allowed to go there, you were not allowed by a Special Branch officer, or possibly the chief constable, but you were directed not to investigate whether there in fact was a plan to kill these people," he said.

The scene directly after the SAS ambush in Co Tyrone 

In reply the retired officer said: "That's correct my lord."

The coroner continued: "So that was an obvious area that wasn't under consideration in your investigation, you simply didn't look at that issue".

"That's correct," Mr Christy replied.

In his statement Mr Annesley, who is aged 83, claimed he couldn't remember the Coagh ambush.

"I wish to state that, due to the passage of time, I have no recollection of this incident or any role I may have undertaken in relation to it," he said.

"I have had no occasion upon which, or reason, to recall or consider the incident since leaving office in 1996."

Mr Annesley also denied he made any direction not to investigate aspects of the ambush.

"I have been made aware that Det Supt Christy gave evidence that he was directed not to investigate the planning and control of this incident," he said.

"He, at one stage suggested that this came from the Chief Constable or the Office of the Chief Constable.

"I categorically refute that such a direction was given.

"I never ordered CID not to investigate planning and control and would not countenance such a suggestion."

The former chief constable also said he is unable to remember if he was briefed after the ambush.

"After an incident such as Coagh, I would expect to be briefed verbally on the outcome of the operation," he said.

"I cannot recall whether I was briefed following this incident or, if I was, the precise details of such a briefing, when I received it and who provided it to me."

With many thanks to the: Irish News and Connla Young for the original story. 

Follow these links to find out more on this story: Former RUC chief Hugh Annesley denies giving order not to investigate 'planning and control' of Coagh ambush

IRA Volunteers – Coagh Martyrs – Tony Doris, Pete Ryan and Lawrence McNally 3rd June 1991

REVELATIONS: Calls for London heiress Rose Dugdale's arrest following IRA bomb-making claims

Dugdale's methods are said to have been used in an attack on the Baltic Exchange in 1992, which killed three people, and in the London Docklands bombing in 1996, which left another two dead. 

A group representing victims of the Troubles has called for an investigation into new claims that a London heiress who joined the IRA was behind a series of high-profile bombings. 

Rose Dugdale's (80) is the subject of Seán O'Driscoll's book Heiress, Rebel, Vigilante, Bomber. She has previously served nine years in prison for stealing art used to try and found the escape of IRA prisoners. 

It is now alleged that after growing up as the daughter of a London millionaire, she was involved in developing bomb-making techniques used in several IRA attacks during the Troubles. 

      Rose Dugdale in an RUC 'wanted'                                     poster

The book is based on interviews with Dugdale, who currently lives in Dublin, and others, and for the first time it's suggested that she had a key role in developing bomb-making capability. 

Her methods are said to have been used in an attack on the Baltic Exchange in 1992, which killed three people, and in the London Docklands bomb in 1996, which left another two dead. 

Dugdale's techniques were also said to have been used in a massive 2,500lb bomb in a 1991 attack on Glenanne barracks, Co Armagh, that killed three soldiers. 

Reacting to the claims, Kenny Donaldson of Innocent Victims United, has called for her immediate arrest. 

"The reported confessions Rose Dugdale has made within this new book demand that she be immediately arrested," he said. 

"Here we have in black and white someone allegedly confirming their involvement in the making of bombs which led to the murders of people, security forces and civilians," he said. 

He also voiced concerns about legislation on the legacy of the Troubles currently going through Westminster. 

He said if Immunity was granted in exchange for information, then terrorists would then be "emboldened to wax lyrical" about their involvement in violence, which would be painted as "some form of romanticised resistance against tyranny". 

"These types of offerings do nothing other than dance on the graves of innocent victims; it is abhorrent and such practice must cease," he said. 

      Seán O'Driscoll's book about Rose                                  Dugdale 

However, the author said last night he "did everything he possibly could to keep it balanced" and found it "frustrating" of being accused of romanticising violence after striving to include the stories of IRA victims. 

Seán O'Driscoll said that he was reporting may actually be of use to victims, bringing to light information that may otherwise never have been made known. 

Urging his critics to read the book first, Mr O'Driscoll said: "I feel that loyalists and republicans are attacking me, I must be doing something right." 

And he added that "coercing a million Protestants into a Catholic-majority state always seemed like an exercise in futility". 

            Links at the end of the story. 

 A PSNI/RUC spokesperson said: "Police have not examined the content of the book referred to; however detectives will always pursue any credible evidence of criminal offences." 

A spokesperson for An Gardai Síochána said that it "takes the concerns of all victims seriously and seeks to ensure all victims are treated with dignity and respect. 

"An Gardai Síochána does not comment on remarks by third parties or on the specificsof investigations conducted by other parties," they said. 

"It is also the policy of An Gardai Síochána not to make detailed public comments on police investigations conducted in other jurisdictions. 

"Specific enquiries in relation to the investigation into the 1996 London Docklands bombing should be directed to the Metropolitan Police." 

The Metropolitan Police have also been contacted for a response. 

With many thanks to the: Sunday World and Allan Preston for the original publication.

Follow these links to find out more on this story: REVELATIONS: Calls for London heiress Rose Dugdale's arrest following IRA bomb-making claims

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