PSNI criticised for late warning

The top secret military document was stolen from Castlereagh police station

The PSNI has been criticised for taking too long to inform more than 60 nationalists that they were under threat from loyalist paramilitaries.

Their details were in a secret military document which went missing from Castlereagh police station in 2004, and later found in the hands of loyalists.

The Police Ombudsman, Al Hutchinson, said there had been an unacceptable delay in warning people.

A solicitor for the group said they planned to sue for damages.

A police spokesman said they had implemented a number of policy recommendations made by the Ombudsman.