Why was political interference not considered by Police Ombudsman? - Beattie.
Why was political interference not considered by Police Ombudsman? - Beattie.
Speaking after the release of the Police Ombudsman report on her investigation into PSNI response to the 2021 Sean Graham Bookmaker Commemoration, Ulster Unionist Party Justice Spokesperson, Doug Beattie MC MLA commented.
“The Police Ombudsman Report into the PSNI response to the Sean Graham Bookmakers Commemoration, on 5th February 2021, told us nothing new. However, the length of time it took to formulate a report, just under four years, must be of concern to us all and also the effect it has had on those PSNI officers where a complaint was directed. The Ombudsman and their office must acknowledge this failing.
“The report lacks any form of analysis of the political interference in the Police response to the commemoration. Without a doubt there was political interference, and that interference led to a police officer being unlawfully disciplined and ultimately led to a Chief Constable losing his job.
“It is now time for an acknowledgement from political figures who interfered where they should not have and to make an apology to the force they so seriously undermined.”