“huge way to go with some of the leaders of the Republican movement and the police service”

Perhaps appropriately, the Chief Constable Hugh Orde was speaking to delegates at a Public Relations Institute of Ireland breakfast briefing in Dublin when he made this response to Sinn Féin’s Gerry Adams’ recent statement

“It’s a very powerful statement from Gerry Adams,” Sir Hugh said. “Those sort of statements contribute to the new world because it’s de facto saying there is only one police service in Northern Ireland - and it’s mine.”

Hmm.. possibly..  although Hugh Orde doesn’t seem to have heard what Jackie McDonald said on Channel 4 News last night.  And the BBC reports that some of his other comments might have been “taken out of context”.  Update  The Irish Times has more on Hugh Orde’s comments.  Meanwhile, according to a BBC report

A man has been treated in hospital following what police have described as “a paramilitary-style attack” in west Belfast.  The 29-year-old was admitted with gun shot wounds to both legs.  It is believed he was attacked in the Norglen Crescent area at about 2115 BST on Thursday.  Detectives at Antrim Road PSNI Station have appealed to anyone with information about the shooting to contact them.

Hugh Orde had something else to say too

The North’s most senior police officer, who only last week hit out at what he said is unwarranted criticism of his rank-and-file by Mr Adams, again berated the Sinn Féin president for engaging in megaphone diplomacy.

“We are where we are because people have challenged us, that’s really powerful. But it’s how you challenge [that’s important] and I think sweeping statements at funerals through megaphones is not constructive,” he said.

“What’s hugely constructive is the fact that we are meeting. We will have a sensible robust conversation but we need to learn from each other.”

Speaking to delegates at a Public Relations Institute of Ireland breakfast briefing in Dublin, Sir Hugh said the next big debate in the peace process was about Sinn Féin’s stance on policing and that the issue was about to reach a critical stage.

“I still think we have a huge way to go with some of the leaders of the Republican movement and the police service,” he said.

“But we have been talking to representatives of Sinn Féin for years. The first public meeting that I had with Gerry Adams was important, it was symbolically important, but the reality is for many years police officers from my organisation and the RUC were talking to Sinn Fein behind the scenes to try and move this world on.”

He added: “I will talk to anyone, regardless of their background, if they want to make a difference to policing and we have had some very strange meetings in some very strange places.”

Indeed.

And, according to the BBC report

It was alleged he said some [Policing Board] members were more interested in sectarian arguments than policing issues.

The chief constable supposedly said he gets more strategic questions from recruits than members of the board.

He is also reported to have said the board had “gone a bit tribal”, with elected members more interested in political debate than policing issues.

If he did say it, he possibly had this example in mind.

Pete Baker @ 02:02 PM