Ulster Justice Spokeswoman Doug Beattie MC MLA has expressed serious concern over the handling of the ongoing investigation involving the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland 

Doug Beattie MC MLA said, “Since the Police Ombudsman has been under investigation, it has been clear that the investigation has undermined the office of the Police Ombudsman NI (PONI). 

“This case has been going on for two years with a file having been sent to the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) in June of this year to consider if the charges met the evidential test and whether it was in the public interest to prosecute. Without a doubt, any prosecution would be in the public interest given the high-profile position of the Ombudsman; the question is therefore, was there enough evidence to secure a conviction? The PPS say there was no prospect of a conviction and have taken the decision not to prosecute. It is difficult to understand the wider rationale for this decision, and therefore, it is important to understand the wider implications of this decision.  

“There are matters of significant public interest in this case, and it is vital that, notwithstanding any possible challenge to the PPS decision, there is some independent report laying out what happened in the original incident and how it was handled.

“To that end, I will be writing to the Director of the Public Prosecution Service to request a meeting to discuss this case to ensure wider confidence in this decision going forward.

“The saga has also revealed the severe lack of any accountability powers, such as a power to suspend any police Ombudsman, and the TEO need to urgently address this accountability gap”.