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'It's a fact' - Sinn Fein's O Muilleoir stands by claims of RUC link to terror attack at Milltown Cemetery funeral
An injured man being aided by mourners, including Sinn Fein vice president Martin McGuinness (left), at Milltown Cemetery, Belfast, after a gun and bomb attack killed three and left four seriously injured, at the funerals of three IRA members killed in Gibraltar. David Jones/PA Wire
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Mourners panicking at Milltown Cemetery, Belfast, after a gun and hand grenade attack was launched by loyalist Michael Stone
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Sinn Fein MLA Mairtin O Muilleoir has said he is standing by his claim that the RUC were involved on Michael Stone's attack during a funeral Milltown Cemetery in 1988.
He said that it was 'a fact' and challenged the PSNI to 'open the files and let the families see the truth of what happened that day'.
Mr O Muilleoir originally made the claim on Monday in a tweet as he attended a memorial event for Thomas McErlean, who was killed by Stone during the 1988 attack at Milltown Cemetery.
The South Belfast MLA posted a photograph of Sinn Fein's Fra McCann addressing a commemoration in honour of McErlean.
Mr O Muilleoir tweeted: "Thomas, who was just 20, died protecting mourners from the RUC-UDA attack on the funerals of the Gibraltar Three on 16 March 2018. A plaque was unveiled at his home today."
The tweet was greeted with incredulity, with a number of Twitter users expressing their disbelief.
Speaking on BBC's Good Morning Ulster on Tuesday Mr O Muilleoir said that RUC collusion was common knowledge.
"In the 1980's and early 90's the RUC was deeply involved in collusion with loyalist gangs.
"Over the last few days we have commemorated Milltown, three heroes who saved many lives by defending mourners and pushing back Micheal Stone on that day.
"The grenades used were brought in from South Africa by Brian Nelson a known RUC agent and one of the weapons used by Stone was also brought in that from that consignment of arms.
Former RUC Assistant Chief Constable Alan McQuillan slammed the tweet as "yet another attempt to rewrite history".
"I know Alan well and admire his efforts to defend the RUC, he does it manfully," said Mr O Muilleoir.
"If he really wants to he should throw open the files and let the families see the truth of that day, that allegation is more than an allegation, it's a fact.
"I was there that day, there wasn't one person in the cemetery who didn't believe state collusion was behind the attack and to this day 30 years on that remains my conviction."
Belfast's Milltown Cemetery comes under attack by UDA man Michael Stone, during the funerals of three Provisional IRA members. Picture by Bobby Ingram
Michael Stone
Mourners panicking at Milltown Cemetery, Belfast, after a gun and bomb attack by Michael Stone which left three people dead and four seriously injured during the funerals of three IRA membes shot dead in Gibraltar. 1988
Loyalist murderer Michael stone storms Stormont
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Belfast Telegraph
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