Private prosecutions are to be taken against three Co Armagh men released from custody last week after charges of murdering a Portadown Catholic, Mr Robert Hamill, were dropped. The solicitor for Mr Hamill's family, Mrs Rosemary Nelson, said: "I have received instructions to pursue private prosecutions since the family has no confidence in the system, which effectively has led them to believe that it was all right to kill their brother and their son."
Mr Hamill (29) was returning home with a cousin and two women last May when he was beaten by loyalist youths.
Mr Hamill's family said an RUC patrol, which was parked in a Land-Rover nearby, did nothing to stop the attack and help Mr Hamill and his cousin, who was injured in the assault.
Last Thursday, three Portadown men, Mr Rory Robinson (25), of Corcrain Avenue, Mr Alistair Hanvey (20), of Derryanvil Road, and Mr Dean Forbes (19), of Deramore Drive, walked free from Lisburn Magistrates' Court after charges of murdering Robert Hamill were dropped.
The Director of Public Prosecutions said the charges were being withdrawn because witness testimony against them was "no longer available".
Three others accused of Mr Hamill's murder are still in custody and a final decision on whether to prosecute them has not yet been taken by the DPP.
The three accused of the murder and the three released last week have all denied any involvement in the murder.
Mrs Nelson said: "This incident was witnessed by a number of police personnel . . . no effort was made by police to prevent the incident or to apprehend any of the persons involved. It is surprising that, though there were police there, they can't supply evidence relating to this matter."