Patsy Kelly

The family of a nationalist councillor murdered in 1974 were failed by The Police as a result of " a wholly inadequate investigation" The Police Ombudsman has found.

Patsy Kelly was shot dead after being abducted on His Way home from work at a pub in Trillick, County Tyrone in 1974.

The Police Ombudsman found that police had failed to verify the alibis of UDR soldiers suspected of involvement.

She also said there was evidence of " collusive behaviour".

Marie Anderson said The Ruc Special Branch had withheld intelligence from the original murder investigation.

She also said that there had been a failure to pursue forensic evidence.

This included a footprint at The Scene of Mr Kelly's abduction which was from boots " associated with a type worn by members of the security forces".

The 33-year-old's body was found weeks after his abduction on 10 August 1974, weighed down in Lough Eyes, near Lisbellaw, about 20 Miles Away . He had been shot six times.

No-one has ever been convicted.

The father-of-five's family have always been convinced that members the Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR) were responsible for the murder and that The Police did not conduct a proper investigation because of this.

Mr Kelly's family met Police Ombudsman Marie Anderson on Wednesday morning before her findings were made public.

The term collusion has been raised in several official reports and inquiries related to the Northern Ireland Troubles over The Past two Decades - But what does it mean?

It is worth stating there is No Offence of collusion, although it may involve a criminal act. It has been said to have many faces.

Generally, it covers a broad range of behaviours, from deliberate wilful actions to " a look The Other way" approach.

There is no universally-accepted definition of collusion, But from 2003 onwards judges and others have spelled out what it means in a Northern Ireland context.

Source of news: bbc.com