A judge was urged yesterday to speed up a court case which is holding up a security review at the home of a senior Sinn Fein man. A Belfast councillor, Mr Alex Maskey, target of a loyalist murder gang three years ago, has qualified for security at his west Belfast home under the Key Persons Protection Scheme.
But he is refusing to allow the RUC to assess his security needs because of alleged police collusion with loyalist terrorists. Mr Maskey is seeking a review of Dr Mo Mowlam's ruling that only the RUC can do the assessment, and has already been given leave to challenge the decision in the High Court. Mr Seamus Treacy asked Mr Justice Kerr for an urgent hearing given the loyalist murder campaign. The judge indicated that he would fix a date next week.