The operation produced no arrests or evidence leading to a criminal prosecution . A prosecution that was eventually brought in connection with the Rettendon Triple Killings was wholly based on police operations subsequent to the abandonment and closure of Operation Century . The tactics deployed by Essex and Royal Ulster Constabulary Special Branch while Operation Century was under way increasingly led to police voicing serious threats against the suspects in question . The operation was also carefully timed to coincide with the 1996 Docklands bombing of Canary Wharf on the evening of 9 February , which marked the ending of the previous mainland Republican bombing campaign cease fire . Any persons involved as witnesses during the triple killings entered into a relocation and witness protection programme . One of the Essex suspects received a call from Belfast within minutes of the Canary Wharf explosion . The Rettendon Triple Murders had absolutely no Irish connection in themselves or with the bombing . Irish affairs were introduced solely by police as part of the underlying leverage for their undercover operation
1996 Docklands bombing
1996 Docklands bombing
Operation Century