PSNI – Page 7 – Slugger O'Toole

Did local media have a role in the Boston College case?

Blank on September 6, 2011, 7:35 pm

| Readers 50

I’ve previously noted how some local media seems to get a free pass from the PSNI over their sources/stories while others are dealt with more proactively and recently we’ve seen the press collectively oppose attempts to turn them into an evidence gathering arm of the state. The ongoing legal case to access the Boston College oral history archive may indicate elements of the media already acting in that evidence gathering capacity (hopefully unwittingly). It is impossible to know which arm …

CJINI report: “Independence is not an absolute.”

Pete Baker on September 5, 2011, 4:06 pm

| Readers 14

Alan’s put up a general post on the CJINI report on the NI Police Ombudsman’s independence – although the BBC headline may be premature, unless someone else is briefing them… Full report available here. We already knew of problems within senior management at the Ombudsman’s Office. And the CJINI key recommendation – “that the investigation into historical cases should be suspended until the Strategic Plan for the Historical Investigations Directorate has been adequately resourced and becomes fully operational” – will be welcome news to Al …

“The OPONI senior management is at present dysfunctional, there is a serious lack of trust between many senior staff”

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on September 5, 2011, 2:44 pm

| Readers 56

snippet from CJI NI report into OPONI

The BBC report that the Police Ombudsman Al Hutchinson is to quit his job before the end of his seven year contract. Mr Hutchinson was due to leave the position in just over three years time. “I acknowledge that personal attacks on me, criticisms, are becoming dysfunctional in their impact in the office and I have reflected on that and I have taken a decision,” he said. The details of this will be announced at a justice committee meeting on …

“That is just the sort of old boy’s network…”

Pete Baker on August 26, 2011, 11:45 pm

| Readers 4

Given the latest controversy at the intersection of politics and policing, it’s worth pointing to Liam Clark’s comments on a previous disagreement over operational matters. From the Belfast Telegraph article In a modern democracy, politicians are expected to allow the police the operational independence to follow up whatever leads come up – even if many of them turn out to be false. The alternative would be for detectives to ring up senior politicians and to ask which suspects could be vouched for …

PSNI badly misjudge their harassment?

Blank on August 26, 2011, 8:52 pm

| Readers 121

It looks increasingly like the PSNI have made a very serious miscalculation during an instance of harassing the family of a non-compliant republican. While it is no surprise they would arrest an ex-prisoner who is the RNU prisons spokesperson, targeting his family could backfire spectacularly. The arrest of lay magistrate Delia Van der Lenden and her retired Dutch naval officer husband seems to echo the lazy harassment many nationalists can easily connect with the attitudes of the old RUC. Mrs Van …

Irish News doesn’t always err on the side of caution

Blank on August 13, 2011, 5:16 pm

| Readers 16

The Irish News photo coverage of the third arrest at Thursday’s RNU protest at Alliance HQ was a tale of two halves – while they decided to hide the identities of the PSNI officers arresting a 16 year old, they didn’t give that same protection to the arrested youth. When UTV covered this story (TV coverage available via link), before the Irish News would have gone to press, they protected the identity of the minor along with those of the …

Handcuffed times two. A case of wrongful arrest?

Blank on August 12, 2011, 12:06 pm

| Readers 68

The Belfast Telegraph reports that two men were arrested during a Republican Network for Unity (Cogus) protest at Alliance Party HQ yesterday. Two members of Republican Network for Unity (RNU) walked into the building on University Street at 9am yesterday and demanded a meeting with Justice Minister and Alliance Party leader David Ford. They note the men were arrested by the PSNI due to behaviour likely to cause a breach of the peace. This common law concept has been clarified …

Republican Facebook site publishes police officers’ pictures

Turgon on August 4, 2011, 11:47 am

| Readers 14

The BBC are reporting that a Facebook page has been set up by dissident republicans which is encouraging members to post images and details of police operations from across Northern Ireland. Terry Spence form the Police Federation said: “This is a very serious matter and I have been in touch with the chief constable’s office this morning.” “I have explained our great concern and asked him to immediately close down the Facebook page and to take immediate action against those …

Martin McGuinness: “I have been in contact with the PSNI at the top level to register my dissatisfaction and annoyance…”

Pete Baker on July 27, 2011, 10:36 pm

| Readers 71

In a post yesterday, noting the major search operation across Northern Ireland and the arrest for questioning of 5 men in connection with the murder of PSNI officer Ronan Kerr, I linked to a UTV report quoting “the Deputy First Minister”, Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness, MP, MLA. “We have to continue to support police in their investigations of any of those actions which taken the lives of any of our citizens – including those members of the police service.” Today, …

A Bonefire In An Empty Space…?

Belfast Gonzo on July 25, 2011, 12:00 pm

| Readers 8

IF you’re stuck at the desk over lunch and need a laugh, check out PSNI West Belfast’s Facebook page. There are some gems of posts, such this possible attempt at haiku below. Profound. But fair play to the poor sod that gets lumbered with replying! Stroaking The Wood From The Bru In Andytonw. Wat Harm Is There Liting. A Bonefire In An Empty Space? Belfast Gonzosluggerotoole.com

NI Police Ombudsman: “we have no evidence of a deliberate action…”

Pete Baker on June 24, 2011, 3:21 pm

| Readers 54

The Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman Al Hutchinson’s report on the investigation into the murder of 6 people in Loughinisland by the UVF in 1994 has been published. To the anger of the relatives of those killed. Al Hutchinson’s comments in the UTV report sum up his position, and the problem for those relatives. “The families believe there is broad state collusion, our remit is only to focus on police actions, I have said there no collusion in two incidents and insufficient …

Police to step up “stop and search of ‘suspicious’ cars and people” in Oldpark area

Pete Baker on June 17, 2011, 4:54 pm

| Readers 18

According to the North Belfast News, “police have agreed to step up their stop and search of ‘suspicious’ cars and people” in the Oldpark/Ardoyne area of North Belfast. Apparently at the request of the local Marrowbone Residents Group. According to the report, John McAlea from Marrowbone Residents Group said, “After talking about the drugs problem with police they have agreed to boost their stop and searching in the area,” he said. “We are really pushing them on the issue because we …

Fourth member of Tohill kidnap gang appears in Belfast Crown Court

Pete Baker on May 26, 2011, 4:19 pm

| Readers 105

Liam Rainey, 38, from New Barnsley Crescent, Belfast, has been remanded in custody before sentencing later next month after appearing in Belfast Crown Court today. He had been awaiting extradition on a European Arrest Warrant after being re-arrested by gardaí in Bettystown, Co Meath, in May last year. According to the reports he was formerly arrested by PSNI officers in Newry this morning. Rainey is the fourth member of the Provisional IRA gang to re-appear in court after jumping bail in May 2006 while …

PSNI: a force with easily demonstrable bias?

Blank on May 22, 2011, 6:49 pm

| Readers 75

British Army supporters pretty much get carte blanche in Belfast it seems: Two years ago we covered the PSNI response to éirígí supporters travelling to their anti-Armed Forces Day protest at Belfast City Hall. That response was riot squad, dogs, blocked streets, jeeps and ensuring the protest never took place. Today a rally was held at Belfast City Hall to protest the MOD decision not to hold a RIR homecoming parade. The main contingent for this protest arrived via …

Criminal Justice Inspection NI to review Police Ombudsman’s independence

Pete Baker on April 25, 2011, 4:21 pm

| Readers 21

The Northern Ireland Justice Minister, David Ford, has already commissioned former civil servant Tony McCusker to examine the allegations made against Department of Justice civil servants by Sam Pollock when he resigned as Chief Executive at the NI Police Ombudsman. And, by the end of last week, the Police Ombudsman, Al Hutchison, had asked the Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland to conduct a review of the operational independence of the Office of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland from the PSNI. From …

Increased security measures for Londonderry courthouse

Pete Baker on April 18, 2011, 9:38 pm

| Readers 8

Following last month’s attempted car bomb at the courthouse in Londonderry, the BBC reports Increased security measures are to be installed at the courthouse in Londonderry after an attempted bomb attack on the building last month. More than 120 bollards will be placed on the footpath outside the court, stretching from the city walls to St. Columb’s Court. Similar measures have already been put in place at the Strand Road police station in the city. Road closures have been ordered …

Arrest in Denis Donaldson murder probe?

Pete Baker on April 12, 2011, 11:16 pm

| Readers 284

Previously adjourned, for the fifth time, in August last year, the inquest into the 2006 death of former senior Sinn Féin figure Denis Donaldson was adjourned again in January ahead of a further pre-inquest hearing on May 5. Now the BBC are reporting that a 70-year-old man has been arrested and is being questioned in Letterkenny Garda station, County Donegal. As RTÉ notes, the man is being detained “on suspicion of withholding information”. He can be held for three days. Responsibility for Donaldson’s murder was claimed …

“the specialist detectives will probe crimes dating back to the 1980s and 1990s…”

Pete Baker on April 11, 2011, 3:45 pm

| Readers 5

This is worth flagging up again, just in case you missed the late Friday afternoon media briefing by “high-ranking security sources”… The PSNI have set up a “specialist team of detectives” to re-examine “specific” crimes, “dating back to the 1980s and 1990s” as well as “a series of incidents around the turn of the 21st century”, which “detectives believe may have involved present-day dissidents.” [added link] From the breakingnews.ie report In a further development, it has emerged that, just 24 hours …

“Now he must tell the dissidents that he was in the wrong, too”

Pete Baker on April 10, 2011, 2:53 pm

| Readers 9

With the PSNI setting up a specialist team of detectives to examine “specific crimes”, “dating back to the 1980s and 1990s”, which they believe “may have involved present-day dissidents”, Malachi O’Doherty has some timely advice for Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness et al. From the Belfast Telegraph article History is letting the Provos off lightly in not plunging them into their own civil war. On balance, McGuinness must surely see that this is not as hard as facing into failure would be. …

Bombscare: public in danger as PSNI deploy cones and withdraw to safety

Blank on April 8, 2011, 7:14 pm

| Readers 11

Covering a bomb scare in Newry, Good Morning Ulster’s Conor MacAuley reported what he found at the scene: There are road closed signs up, there are cones, some signs and lights, but I can’t see any police presence at the moment” “I have seen dozens of cars driving past this morning, some of them with small children in the back of their cars doing the school run. People obviously don’t realise the potential danger they are in [added emphasis …