Lawyers’ concern over PSNI role in journalists’ arrests
THE extent of PSNI involvement in the arrest and questioning of two documentary makers has prompted questions over the independence of the investigation.
Lawyers for Trevor Birney and Barry McCaffrey have expressed concern about the PSNI’s role in what was portrayed as a Durham Police operation. They claim events in Belfast last Friday were dominated by the PSNI.
The award-winning journalists were released on bail on Friday evening after being held for 14 hours for questioning over the alleged theft of confidential material from a police watchdog.
The PSNI originally asked Durham Police to conduct the investigation into how material held by the Police Ombudsman ended up in the reporters’ documentary on the notorious Loughinisland massacre of 1994.
With the No Stone Unturned film exploring claims of security force collusion with the loyalists who murdered six men in the Co Down village, PSNI chief constable, George Hamilton, called in an external force to probe the theft allegations, citing potential conflict of interest concerns.
But solicitors Niall Murphy and John Finucane, who represent Mr Birney and Mr McCaffrey respectively, have now questioned the stated independence of the Durham inquiry, insisting the PSNI had a prominent role throughout Friday’s events.
Both lawyers say the multiple custody interviews with their clients involved one Durham detective and one PSNI detective, with the local officers asking as many questions as the English ones.
Mr Murphy claims only three Durham officers were in Belfast for an arrest and detention operation that he said involved more than 100 PSNI officers in total.
Mr Murphy said: “In my respectful opinion, this arrest and interview strategy was overwhelmingly directed and executed by officers of the PSNI.”
Mr Finucane said he was concerned at the extent of PSNI involvement.
The PSNI declined comment.
A spokesman for Durham Police said PSNI involvement was appropriate, insisting they only played a “supporting role”.
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