Seven people arrested in connection with the murder of a Catholic kicked to death by a loyalist gang four years ago have been released on police bail while inquiries continue.
The five men and two women, including an RUC reserve constable, were held yesterday on the orders of the Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman as part of a major investigation into the handling of the police inquiry into the murder of Portadown father-of-three Mr Robert Hamill in April 1997.
It was the first time Mrs Nuala O'Loan had issued such a directive since her appointment last November as Northern Ireland's first Police Ombudsman.
None of the seven has been charged.
Six men were originally accused of Mr Hamill's murder but charges against five were dropped after two key witnesses withdrew their evidence.
The sixth man was later acquitted of the murder.
Mr Hamill was beaten and jumped on in the centre of Portadown and died without regaining consciousness in the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast on May 8th.
He had been returning home with a cousin's husband and two women when he was attacked in front of RUC constabulary officers who were sitting in a nearby Land Rover.
RUC officers were accused of failing to intervene when they witnessed Mr Hamill being beaten by a crowd of up to 30 loyalists.
Police said their men had intervened but were overwhelmed and had to wait for reinforcements.
PA