SECOND MERSEYSIDE SENIOR OFFICER TO JOIN OMAGH BOMB PROBE
Second Merseyside senior officer to join Omagh bomb probe
A SECOND senior police officer from the Merseyside force has been appointed to take part in the renewed investigation into the Omagh bombing.
The necessity to appoint an outside officer to liaise with the investigation was accepted by the former Chief Constable of the PSNI, Sir Ronnie Flanagan, after the release of a report by Nuala O'Loan, the Police Ombudsman.
A senior detective, Philip Jones, was appointed to scrutinise the new PSNI enquiry, and has been given equal status with the head of the PSNI investigation, Brian McArthur.
Now it has been confirmed that Deputy Chief Constable Mike Tonge will join his colleague. His role is said to be one of an overview of the investigation.
He has been asked to assess a number of issues and report directly to the Policing Board.
He will also examine resources and skill levels needed to satisfactorily conclude the investigation; undertake quality assurance ; look at measures the PSNI had taken to enhance working relationships with the Garda; and provide strategic guidance to the Policing Board.
DCC Tongue, will, however, only be working on the Omagh investigation for a few days each month.
The Merseyside force feared a permanent secondment might overstretch its resources.
The latest appointment followed weeks of talks involving the Policing Board chairman, Professor Desmond Rea and the vice-chairman, Denis Bradley, the Merseyside Chief Constable, Norman Bettison, Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary representative Dan Crompton; and the chair of the Merseyside Police Authority, Carol Gustafson.
Professor Rea welcomed the appointment. He said any further lessons learned as a result of the review would serve only to enhance the professionalism of the PSNI.
Welcomed
And the appointment was also welcomed by Mr Joe Byrne, West Tyrone MLA and a member of the Policing Board.
He said the appointment was a sign of the Board's determination to ensure that all efforts were being made to bring the bombers to justice.
'The appointment of DCC Tonge is only one of a series of measures the Policing Board has recommended to beef up the Omagh bomb investigation. These include the appointment of Deputy Chief Superintendent Phil Jones as the external senior officer to directly scrutinise the current enquiry to maximise all evidence-gathering opportunities, the appointment of an HMIC officer to review procedures in relation to murder investigation in the north, and a focused 'boring down' review into Special Branch and how intelligence is shared with other arts of the PSNI," said Mr Byrne.
He added: The SDLP is determined to get policing right. Through our membership of the Policing Board we have played a central role in arguing for these reviews so that policing in Northern Ireland is fully transparent and accountable."
A SECOND senior police officer from the Merseyside force has been appointed to take part in the renewed investigation into the Omagh bombing.
The necessity to appoint an outside officer to liaise with the investigation was accepted by the former Chief Constable of the PSNI, Sir Ronnie Flanagan, after the release of a report by Nuala O'Loan, the Police Ombudsman.
A senior detective, Philip Jones, was appointed to scrutinise the new PSNI enquiry, and has been given equal status with the head of the PSNI investigation, Brian McArthur.
Now it has been confirmed that Deputy Chief Constable Mike Tonge will join his colleague. His role is said to be one of an overview of the investigation.
He has been asked to assess a number of issues and report directly to the Policing Board.
He will also examine resources and skill levels needed to satisfactorily conclude the investigation; undertake quality assurance ; look at measures the PSNI had taken to enhance working relationships with the Garda; and provide strategic guidance to the Policing Board.
DCC Tongue, will, however, only be working on the Omagh investigation for a few days each month.
The Merseyside force feared a permanent secondment might overstretch its resources.
The latest appointment followed weeks of talks involving the Policing Board chairman, Professor Desmond Rea and the vice-chairman, Denis Bradley, the Merseyside Chief Constable, Norman Bettison, Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary representative Dan Crompton; and the chair of the Merseyside Police Authority, Carol Gustafson.
Professor Rea welcomed the appointment. He said any further lessons learned as a result of the review would serve only to enhance the professionalism of the PSNI.
Welcomed
And the appointment was also welcomed by Mr Joe Byrne, West Tyrone MLA and a member of the Policing Board.
He said the appointment was a sign of the Board's determination to ensure that all efforts were being made to bring the bombers to justice.
'The appointment of DCC Tonge is only one of a series of measures the Policing Board has recommended to beef up the Omagh bomb investigation. These include the appointment of Deputy Chief Superintendent Phil Jones as the external senior officer to directly scrutinise the current enquiry to maximise all evidence-gathering opportunities, the appointment of an HMIC officer to review procedures in relation to murder investigation in the north, and a focused 'boring down' review into Special Branch and how intelligence is shared with other arts of the PSNI," said Mr Byrne.
He added: The SDLP is determined to get policing right. Through our membership of the Policing Board we have played a central role in arguing for these reviews so that policing in Northern Ireland is fully transparent and accountable."
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1060
Published Date: 23-May-02
Related Images
