Two journalists arrested over the suspected theft of confidential material used in a documentary about the Loughinisland massacre have been released.
Trevor Birney, 51, and Barry McCaffrey, 48, who had spent years investigating the 1994 massacre, were detained for questioning over documents used in their film about the shooting that killed six civilians in the County Down village in Northern Ireland.
They walked out of Musgrave Street police station in Belfast at 8.55pm having been arrested at 7am on Friday morning.
Their solicitors said the men had been released on bail.
Six men were murdered when loyalists opened fire on a crowd of football fans gathered around a TV in a pub in Loughinisland watching the Republic of Ireland play in the 1994 Fifa World Cup.
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Last years No Stone Unturned documentary examined the persistent claims of state collusion in the murders and broke new ground by publicly naming what it said were suspects.
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Police said the confidential material under investigation had been in the possession of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland (PONI).
A police spokesman has claimed the theft of the documents potentially puts lives at risk.
Outside the police station an emotional Mr McCaffrey said: There are families here [who] lost loved ones who didnt get justice today.
This man [Mr Birney] was taken away from his wife and his children this morning, my neighbours had to see me getting taken away. Its not fair, its not fair.
And its an attack on the press, everybody should realise. Its us today, tomorrow it could be you.
Mr Birney said it had been a very difficult day.
PONI officers reported the alleged theft to the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI).
The PSNI then asked Durham Police to conduct an independent investigation into the claims.
Mr McCaffreys lawyer John Finucane said he was deeply disturbed by the mens detention.
He said: What I have witnessed today is nothing more than a very sinister attack on the freedom of the press.
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Mr Birneys solicitor Niall Murphy said his client had gone through four taped interviews in custody.
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He added: Throughout those interviews not one scintilla of evidence was put to Mr Birney.
It was very apparent at all times that the PSNIs predominant interest was their ability to continue to recruit informers rather than to investigate crime.
I have spoken with the families of the Loughinisland atrocity today and they are bitterly disappointed, heartbroken in fact that the only investigative action arising from the film No Stone Unturned was the arrest of the two people who investigated the matter and sought to expose the truth, rather than to investigate the six murders that occurred and the protection that was afforded to the suspects by police.
Mr Murphy said a High Court challenge by the film company behind the documentary had injuncted the police from examining the evidence seized until the matter was aired at a full court hearing.
It is understood the custody interviews involved officers from both the PSNI and Durham Police.
While the men were held in Belfast, families and supporters of those killed in the massacre staged a vigil in solidarity with the journalists in Loughinisland.
Around 100 people turned out to the Heights Bar for the demonstration.
Several held aloft a banner calling for justice for the atrocity and others held framed photographs of their murdered loved ones.
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Emma Rogan, whose father was killed in the shootings, said the village was left stunned on Friday morning when they heard about the arrests.
She said: The whole community were shocked to hear they were arrested while the perpetrators of this heinous act have never been charged.
The attack unfolded on 18 June 1994 when gunmen from loyalist paramilitary group Ulster Volunteer Force (UV) burst into the Heights Bar and opened fire at football fans.
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In 2011, the Police Ombudsman Al Hutchinson found there had been major failings in the police investigation following the shootings, but said there was no evidence that officers had colluded with the UVF.
However in 2016, a new Ombudsman Dr Michael Maguire found there had been collusion, and the police investigation had been undermined by a desire to protect informers.
In 2017, a judge delivered a damning judgment against Dr Maguires report, ruling that he had exceeded his statutory powers by declaring officers guilty of colluding in the UVF attack.
Another judge is now presiding over a case that will focus on whether Dr Maguires findings should be formally quashed.
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