Northern Police cleared to hear Boston College tapes

The PSNI has reportedly won the right to listen to Boston College's taped interviews with loyalist Winston “Winkie” Rea.

However, they've been told that, for now, the tapes will remain secret, in case Rea's legal team appeals to the Supreme Court.

Dozens of former paramilitaries provided testimonies to Boston College's Belfast Project from 2001 to 2006 as part of an oral history on The Troubles.

Details about internal politics and activities of the IRA were revealed on the tapes, including accounts of the 1980's prison hunger strikes.

The interviews were given on the understanding that the tapes would not be made public until after their deaths.