POLICING BOARD DIVIDED ON REPORT
Policing Board divided on report
A ROW broke out yesterday among Policing Board members over the publication of the Crompton-Blakey report on the Omagh judgment.
The board commissioned the inquiry into Mr Justice Weir's damning comments about the police and allegations of "beefing up" evidence, after the judgment last December.
It considered the report behind closed doors and agreed it by a majority.
However, Sinn Fein members refused to adopt the report and opposed its publication - as other inquiries into the Omagh fall-out continue.
MLA and board member Martin Anderson said it was wrong to produce the Crompton-Blakey findings when the Police Ombudsman was still investigating two officers named in court, and potentially others, for beefing up evidence.
Policing Board chairman Professor Sir Desmond Rea defended the majority decision to put the report in the public domain as soon as possible.
But Ms Anderson said this one report, focusing on the judge, was misrepresentative.
She said: "The judge in the Omagh bomb trial raised a number of very serious issues concerning the conduct of the investigation into the bomb and the evidence provided by a number of PSNI officers.
"The Policing Board tasked this investigating team to find answers to those questions and in doing so, help restore public confidence.
"It is our view that the report fails to do this and has not fulfilled its terms of reference as set out by the board."
Its publication now, despite reports from the PPS and Ombudsman which are still awaited, "will effectively park the Omagh inquiry issue", she claimed.
SDLP MLA and Policing Board member Dolores Kelly said the board would closely scrutinise the findings and recommendations.
It agreed to undertake a number of actions starting with a meeting with the chief constable.
A ROW broke out yesterday among Policing Board members over the publication of the Crompton-Blakey report on the Omagh judgment.
The board commissioned the inquiry into Mr Justice Weir's damning comments about the police and allegations of "beefing up" evidence, after the judgment last December.
It considered the report behind closed doors and agreed it by a majority.
However, Sinn Fein members refused to adopt the report and opposed its publication - as other inquiries into the Omagh fall-out continue.
MLA and board member Martin Anderson said it was wrong to produce the Crompton-Blakey findings when the Police Ombudsman was still investigating two officers named in court, and potentially others, for beefing up evidence.
Policing Board chairman Professor Sir Desmond Rea defended the majority decision to put the report in the public domain as soon as possible.
But Ms Anderson said this one report, focusing on the judge, was misrepresentative.
She said: "The judge in the Omagh bomb trial raised a number of very serious issues concerning the conduct of the investigation into the bomb and the evidence provided by a number of PSNI officers.
"The Policing Board tasked this investigating team to find answers to those questions and in doing so, help restore public confidence.
"It is our view that the report fails to do this and has not fulfilled its terms of reference as set out by the board."
Its publication now, despite reports from the PPS and Ombudsman which are still awaited, "will effectively park the Omagh inquiry issue", she claimed.
SDLP MLA and Policing Board member Dolores Kelly said the board would closely scrutinise the findings and recommendations.
It agreed to undertake a number of actions starting with a meeting with the chief constable.
Further Information
Publisher: NEWS LETTER
Ref: NL/767
Published Date: 10-Jul-08
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