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A Garda superintendent given the names of UDA members suspected of killing forestry worker Seamus Ludlow failed to act on the information an inquest heard today.

Retired Garda DEtective Inspector John Courtney said RUC officers gave him names and addresses of the persons involved 18 months after Mr Ludlow, 47, was found shot three times near his home at Dundalk, Co Louth.

Mr Courtney, who investigated the killing, wrote a report about the information he had been given which was sent to Chief Superintendent Dick Fahy and C3, the Garda headquarters section dealing with subversives.

"I heard no more about it and that was that," he added.

Later, he wanted to interview the suspects but was denied the go-ahead to quiz them

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He was told by a garda in C3 that the "man in charge would not do anything about it."

No explanation was given, Mr Courtney told the coroner.

Mr Courtney said that within three months of the shooting he had ruled out the possibility that the IRA killed Mr Ludlow.

But the family have said that for years gardai had led them to believe that it was the IRA.

Mr Ludlow's body was found dumped in a lane, and a first inquest merely recorded the manner of death.

His family campaigned for the second inquest, believing he was picked up by Loyalist paramilitaries as he hitched a lift home late at night.

They are concerned about possible collusion and gardai were represented by lawyers at the inquest.

The hearing continues.

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Revised: September 08, 2005 .