POLICE OMBUDSMAN SHOULD RECONSIDER HER POSITION - GIBSON
Police Ombudsman should 'reconsider her position' - Gibson
THE response of the Policing Board to the Omagh bomb investigation controversy was a vote of no confidence in the Police Ombudsman, Mr Oliver Gibson, DUP Assemblyman for West Tyrone, has said.
He said Mrs. O'Loan's central recommendation that the investigation should be taken over by an outside investigating officer and team had been rejected, leaving the PSNI in operational control.
And Mr. Gibson said that Mrs. O'Loan's own office was now to be investigated by the Secretary of State, and the Policing Board had called for changes to give protection to those on whom the Ombudsman's office reported on in future.
The Assemblyman said the Ombudsman's report had gone to great lengths to build up the importance of the information of the informer Kevin Fulton. The Policing Board had rejected "this damaging slur" and this was yet another slap in the face" for Mrs. O'Loan.
Mr. Gibson also said that the Policing Board had proved its critics wrong twice now on important issues by being unanimous in relation to the Omagh bomb investigation, following on its unanimous acceptance of the new PSNI badges.
"The big losers are Sinn Fein, who once again find themselves totally outside the door when important policing decisions are being made. They can fume, but they have no influence on policing matters," said Mr. Gibson.
The Policing Board's views on the Omagh investigation had also displeased the Police Ombudsman, and she should now reconsider her position, Mr. Gibson said.
THE response of the Policing Board to the Omagh bomb investigation controversy was a vote of no confidence in the Police Ombudsman, Mr Oliver Gibson, DUP Assemblyman for West Tyrone, has said.
He said Mrs. O'Loan's central recommendation that the investigation should be taken over by an outside investigating officer and team had been rejected, leaving the PSNI in operational control.
And Mr. Gibson said that Mrs. O'Loan's own office was now to be investigated by the Secretary of State, and the Policing Board had called for changes to give protection to those on whom the Ombudsman's office reported on in future.
The Assemblyman said the Ombudsman's report had gone to great lengths to build up the importance of the information of the informer Kevin Fulton. The Policing Board had rejected "this damaging slur" and this was yet another slap in the face" for Mrs. O'Loan.
Mr. Gibson also said that the Policing Board had proved its critics wrong twice now on important issues by being unanimous in relation to the Omagh bomb investigation, following on its unanimous acceptance of the new PSNI badges.
"The big losers are Sinn Fein, who once again find themselves totally outside the door when important policing decisions are being made. They can fume, but they have no influence on policing matters," said Mr. Gibson.
The Policing Board's views on the Omagh investigation had also displeased the Police Ombudsman, and she should now reconsider her position, Mr. Gibson said.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1025
Published Date: 21-Feb-02
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