LEGAL AID TO QUASH REPORT
Legal bid to quash report
A LEGAL bid to quash the Police Ombudsman's highly critical report of the police handling of the Omagh bomb investigation is due to get under way in the High Court in Belfast today.
The Police Association is applying for a judicial review of Nuala O'Loan's criticism of the then RUC's handling of the probe into the Real IRA attack in August 1998 which killed 29 people, including a woman pregnant with twins, and injured many more. Two days have been set aside for the hearing before Mr Justice Kerr and it is expected that judgment will be reserved.
A spokesman for the Police Association's solicitors, Edward; and Company, said: "The application is on behalf of the officers criticised in the Ombudman's report who were given no right of reply."
Mrs O'Loan's report centred on the role of the Special Branch, criticising it for inadequate sharing of information.
It accused then Chief Constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan, above, of "defective leadership" and "poor judgment". Sir Ronnie's affidavit supporting the case for quashing the report will be accompanied by one from Ray White, a former assistant chief constable. The Ombudsman's office will have affidavits from PSNI acting Deputy Chief Constable Alan McQuillan and Assistant Chief Constable Sam Kincaid.
A LEGAL bid to quash the Police Ombudsman's highly critical report of the police handling of the Omagh bomb investigation is due to get under way in the High Court in Belfast today.
The Police Association is applying for a judicial review of Nuala O'Loan's criticism of the then RUC's handling of the probe into the Real IRA attack in August 1998 which killed 29 people, including a woman pregnant with twins, and injured many more. Two days have been set aside for the hearing before Mr Justice Kerr and it is expected that judgment will be reserved.
A spokesman for the Police Association's solicitors, Edward; and Company, said: "The application is on behalf of the officers criticised in the Ombudman's report who were given no right of reply."
Mrs O'Loan's report centred on the role of the Special Branch, criticising it for inadequate sharing of information.
It accused then Chief Constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan, above, of "defective leadership" and "poor judgment". Sir Ronnie's affidavit supporting the case for quashing the report will be accompanied by one from Ray White, a former assistant chief constable. The Ombudsman's office will have affidavits from PSNI acting Deputy Chief Constable Alan McQuillan and Assistant Chief Constable Sam Kincaid.
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0589
Published Date: 23-Jan-03
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