UH/0904

GIBSON BACKS SPECIAL BRANCH

Gibson Backs Special Branch

DUP Assemblyman Oliver Gibson has accused the the Police Ombudsman of using the Omagh bombing to advance an anti-police agenda.
In a statement, Mr Gibson said that the Ombudsman's Office had been trying for two years to get a conviction against individual police officers. However, he said that after spending �8.5 million carrying out investigations, 'not one officer has been convicted of wrong doing'.
He further suggested that that Special Branch was a popular target for republicans and that an attack on its performance would endear the Police Ombudsman's Office to republicans and help republicans make the case for the abolition of Special Branch.
"What the Ombudsman has done is focus attention away from the psychotic killers and turn the blame on police. If ever there was any evidence needed to justify the scepticism towards the Ombudsman's Office sure the cynical abuse of the Omagh tragedy proves it."

Further Information

Publisher: ULSTER HERALD

Ref: UH/0904

Published Date: 03-Jan-02

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