'Shoot to kill' claim re-examined

The three men were shot dead at a checkpoint by police in 1982

Sinn Fein has called for the publication of a report into alleged shoot-to-kill incidents involving the security forces during the Troubles.

The call comes as the Police Ombudsman's office has been asked to look at the deaths of three IRA men 25 years ago.

The report by top policeman John Stalker was never published.

The police ombudsman has Mr Stalker's files relating to the killing of the three unarmed IRA men in 1982.

The government asked Nuala O'Loan to examine the files in response to concerns raised by the Council of Europe.

Sinn Fein assembly member Alex Maskey said: "We need to see the full publication of the Stalker Report and the immediate publication of all other inquiries relating to the policy of shoot-to-kill."

However, DUP MP Sammy Wilson described it as "another RUC witch hunt".

Gervaise McKerr, Sean Burns and Eugene Toman were shot dead at a checkpoint by police near Lurgan.

John Stalker's mid-1980s inquiry proved to be controversial

In 2001, the European Court of Human Rights paid £10,000 in compensation to 10 families, including Mr McKerr's.

It found human rights had been violated because of the failure of the state authorities to conduct a proper investigation into the circumstances of the deaths.

Mr McKerr's family continued their attempt to force another inquiry when no further official action followed the European ruling.

But in 2004, the Attorney General said a fresh inquiry into the Lurgan shooting would be a "burden" on the government.

Police Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan has begun looking at the files

The Council of Europe has now asked the government to get the police ombudsman's office to consider the case.

The government has always denied any "shoot to kill" policy and has resisted calls from families to look again at what happened.

A spokesperson for the police ombudsman said Nuala O'Loan had just begun to look at the files.

She will decide whether an investigation is needed, during a process which could take several months.