“Almost a year ago, there was an effort to push this information into the public domain.”

So, this is intriguing. Brian Rowan has some interesting background detail on the big Irish News front page spread earlier in the week…

On Monday, there was another development when The Irish News correspondent Allison Morris reported that the IRA commander behind the 1993 Shankill bombing was a police informant – ‘Agent AA’ – who had told his handlers of the plan.

It is reported that he was identified when the IRA decoded the stolen Castlereagh documents. Almost a year ago, there was an effort to push this information into the public domain. Graffiti was painted in Ardoyne and other information made available.

But, at this time, no documents were produced to substantiate or corroborate what was being alleged, nor was there a specific reference to Special Branch knowing of the planned Shankill bomb.

Well, it took a while, but today it fell to the Chief Constable to state that “he was “100% convinced” that the RUC had no knowledge of the bombing that could have prevented it”.  Stiff tests (we hope) coming up from the Police Ombudsman and (if they so chose) the Policing Board.

Mick Fealty

Mick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty