OMAGH OFFICER LACKS POWER
Omagh officer 'lacks power'
SINN FEIN has poured scepticism on the Policing Board's appointment of an outsider officer to 'quality assure' the Omagh bomb investigation.
Deputy Chief Constable Mike Tonge, from Merseyside Police, has agreed to take up the post following lengthy discussions with the scrutinising body.
The Policing Board decided to recruit an outside officer following a damning report into the RUC's handling of the Omagh bomb investigation.
The controversy prompted former chief constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan to appoint Merseyside Chief Superintendent Philip Jones to act as an adviser on the probe.
But the Policing Board ordered the implementation of a series of measures in a bid to restore confidence in the investigation, which included Mr Jones having equal status to that of the PSNI's senior investigating officer.
Deputy Chief Constable Mike Tonge will have an overview of the investigation but will not have operational control and will conclude his work in December. His duties will include:
examining resource and skill levels needed to satisfactorily conclude the investigation
undertaking a quality assurance role, particularly in relation to the PSNI's internal Omagh Bomb Review Report
reviewing PSNI measures to improve relations with the Garda.
Welcoming the appointment, Policing Board member Professor Desmond Rea said: "Any further lessons learned as the result of these review mechanisms will serve only to enhance the professionalism of the PSNI."
News of the appointment came as SDLP Policing Board member Alex Attwood met Police Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan over the violence in east Belfast, the investigations into the murders of Robert Hamill and Pat Finucane and the Omagh controversy.
Last night Sinn Fein assembly member Gerry Kelly claimed the outside officers drafted into the Omagh probe would make little impact.
"They will have no authority except to take messages for the investigating team," he said.
"It is obvious the people involved have made a mess of it (Omagh bomb investigation)."
Mr Kelly ruled out fresh claims that Sinn Fein was on the verge of joining the Policing Board.
"Until we have proper policing they (Policing Board) don't have the power," he said.
SINN FEIN has poured scepticism on the Policing Board's appointment of an outsider officer to 'quality assure' the Omagh bomb investigation.
Deputy Chief Constable Mike Tonge, from Merseyside Police, has agreed to take up the post following lengthy discussions with the scrutinising body.
The Policing Board decided to recruit an outside officer following a damning report into the RUC's handling of the Omagh bomb investigation.
The controversy prompted former chief constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan to appoint Merseyside Chief Superintendent Philip Jones to act as an adviser on the probe.
But the Policing Board ordered the implementation of a series of measures in a bid to restore confidence in the investigation, which included Mr Jones having equal status to that of the PSNI's senior investigating officer.
Deputy Chief Constable Mike Tonge will have an overview of the investigation but will not have operational control and will conclude his work in December. His duties will include:
examining resource and skill levels needed to satisfactorily conclude the investigation
undertaking a quality assurance role, particularly in relation to the PSNI's internal Omagh Bomb Review Report
reviewing PSNI measures to improve relations with the Garda.
Welcoming the appointment, Policing Board member Professor Desmond Rea said: "Any further lessons learned as the result of these review mechanisms will serve only to enhance the professionalism of the PSNI."
News of the appointment came as SDLP Policing Board member Alex Attwood met Police Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan over the violence in east Belfast, the investigations into the murders of Robert Hamill and Pat Finucane and the Omagh controversy.
Last night Sinn Fein assembly member Gerry Kelly claimed the outside officers drafted into the Omagh probe would make little impact.
"They will have no authority except to take messages for the investigating team," he said.
"It is obvious the people involved have made a mess of it (Omagh bomb investigation)."
Mr Kelly ruled out fresh claims that Sinn Fein was on the verge of joining the Policing Board.
"Until we have proper policing they (Policing Board) don't have the power," he said.
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0557
Published Date: 18-May-02
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