Head Hunting

The Police Ombudsman has stated quite clearly that the collusion between the Royal Ulster Constabulary and loyalist thugs could not have gone on unless those at the "highest levels of the RUC" knew what was going on and lent their support. So the obvious question is, who was in charge back then at the height of The Troubles?

All eyes turn to London, where Ronnie Flanagan continues to serve and protect. He does it so well, apparently, that Her Majesty bestowed a knighthood on him. Not every policeman can claim such honors.

Sir Ronnie is currently employed as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary, minding the force in the far-flung kingdom. On the heels of Nuala O'Loan's report on collusion, heads are being hunted, and Sir Ronnie is the highest head of all.

While Special Branch was hiding the fact that loyalist gangs were murdering innocent people at will, Sir Ronnie was head of Special Branch. Yet in spite of Mrs. O'Loan's assertions that those in the highest ranks had to have known, Flanagan insists that he knew nothing. There he was, sitting behind his heavy desk, and all that collusion? Never smelled a whiff of the stink. Right under his nose, maybe, but he didn't have the slightest inkling.

The embattled Chief Inspector states that he was as helpful as he could be when the Police Ombudsman came calling. Not evasive, not unhelpful, no indeed. No one from Mrs. O'Loan's office ever criticized his willingness to answer questions. As for the charges of collusion, why, such conduct is reprehensible. And those who did the dirty deeds should be punished or disciplined or brought to court.

People were killed because of their religion, the murderers allowed to kill again because the police protected them from justice. Worse than corruption, the verified fact of police collusion is indescribably vile. Those who were guilty managed to cover their tracks, by destroying evidence or operating outside of police procedure, and they will most likely never be brought to justice. Someone is going to have to be made to pay, and that someone is the man who once headed the Special Branch.

Mark Durkan of the SDLP is calling for Sir Ronnie's noggin on a tray, and he's asking Tony Blair to do the chopping. It was Tony Blair, after all, who elevated Flanagan to his current position. Never mind the collusion charges, but how incompetent must the man be to not know what was happening while he ran a department? And today he's in charge of the whole bit, the Chief Inspector? Not much of a vote of confidence, is it, when the Chief Inspector can't see past the end of his nose.