CONCLUSIONS OF REPORT BY OMBUDSMAN
Conclusions of report by Ombudsman
THE victims, their families, the people of Omagh and officers of the RUC had been let down by defective leadership, poor judgment and lack of urgency, Mrs. O'Loan said in her conclusions.
She also said: "The Police Ombudsman has concluded, with great sadness that the judgment and leadership of the Chief Constable and ACC Crime have been seriously flawed. As a result of that, the chances of detaining and convicting the Omagh bombers have been significantly reduced. "
In her other conclusions Mrs. O'Loan said:
"The proposed plans for the implementation of the Patten Report in respect of Special Branch, need further consideration. Mere structural
change, departmental redesign and presentation will not be sufficient, unless there is other organisational and cultural change which offers better integration, more cohesive working and a positive strategic approach to the whole process of gathering, managing and disseminating information.
"During the course of this most important investigation, whilst a number of police officers have responded magnificently, it remains the case that some police witnesses have inexplicably varied their accounts to the Police Ombudsman's Investigators involved in this investigation. Others have sought to avoid talking to the investigators or declined to make statements, or have made limited statements and have refused to expand upon them.
"There is evidence to show that discussions have taken place which have impacted on the responses. These incidents have generally involved officers who have nothing to hide. At senior management level, the response to this enquiry has been defensive and at times, uncooperative.
"The Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland must be able to have confidence that the Police Service of Northern Ireland, and its leaders, have integrity and will honestly, openly and willingly deal with requests made of the organisation by the Police Ombudsman in the exercise of her statutory powers.
"If these matters and the Recommendations in this Report are dealt with in a very positive way, then the new Police Service of Northern Ireland will be healthier, more professional and more effective as a result. What is outlined here will take no little courage and self-examination, but positive consideration of it will be a good investment.
"This report presents windows of opportunity, it is not designed to be destructively critical and it is not directed at the foundations and most of the superstructure of the RUC. Leadership failure is identified but the recommendations are designed to recover, as far as possible, lost ground."
THE victims, their families, the people of Omagh and officers of the RUC had been let down by defective leadership, poor judgment and lack of urgency, Mrs. O'Loan said in her conclusions.
She also said: "The Police Ombudsman has concluded, with great sadness that the judgment and leadership of the Chief Constable and ACC Crime have been seriously flawed. As a result of that, the chances of detaining and convicting the Omagh bombers have been significantly reduced. "
In her other conclusions Mrs. O'Loan said:
"The proposed plans for the implementation of the Patten Report in respect of Special Branch, need further consideration. Mere structural
change, departmental redesign and presentation will not be sufficient, unless there is other organisational and cultural change which offers better integration, more cohesive working and a positive strategic approach to the whole process of gathering, managing and disseminating information.
"During the course of this most important investigation, whilst a number of police officers have responded magnificently, it remains the case that some police witnesses have inexplicably varied their accounts to the Police Ombudsman's Investigators involved in this investigation. Others have sought to avoid talking to the investigators or declined to make statements, or have made limited statements and have refused to expand upon them.
"There is evidence to show that discussions have taken place which have impacted on the responses. These incidents have generally involved officers who have nothing to hide. At senior management level, the response to this enquiry has been defensive and at times, uncooperative.
"The Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland must be able to have confidence that the Police Service of Northern Ireland, and its leaders, have integrity and will honestly, openly and willingly deal with requests made of the organisation by the Police Ombudsman in the exercise of her statutory powers.
"If these matters and the Recommendations in this Report are dealt with in a very positive way, then the new Police Service of Northern Ireland will be healthier, more professional and more effective as a result. What is outlined here will take no little courage and self-examination, but positive consideration of it will be a good investment.
"This report presents windows of opportunity, it is not designed to be destructively critical and it is not directed at the foundations and most of the superstructure of the RUC. Leadership failure is identified but the recommendations are designed to recover, as far as possible, lost ground."
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/0957
Published Date: 13-Dec-01
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