PSNI head signed off on 2014 adams arrest
DREW Harris signed off the arrest of former Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams in 2014.
The detention was in connection with the abduction and murder of mother-of-10 Jean Mcconville in December 1972, when Mr Harris was head of the PSNI Crime Operations.
At the time Sinn Fein heavily criticised the decision to arrest their leader during an election campaign.
Mr Harris, the PSNI’S assistant chief constable, was announced as Ireland’s top cop yesterday.
He will lead a force undergoing reform but praised for complex investigations like that which led to the imprisonment of former Anglo Irish Bank chief David Drumm.
However, it faced recent criticism from a judge for its handling of an interview which led to the halting of the prosecution of a man over the killing of Northern Ireland prison officer David Black.
Mr Harris’ predecessor as commissioner, Noirin O’sullivan, stood down amid mounting pressure over the slow rate of reform in the Force. The new recruit is in his 50s and has 34 years of policing experience, principally in Northern Ireland, including 12 years in senior leadership roles.
He was appointed to the rank of assistant chief constable responsible for crime operations in the PSNI in 2006 and has served as deputy chief constable since 2014.
In addition to managing multiple organised and serious crime investigations, he was responsible for all intelligence gathering, operations and analytical support for the PSNI and worked closely with An Garda Siochana in this role.
He also has significant experience in delivering organisational change, managing budgets and personnel management.
Mr Harris holds an MA in Criminology from the Institute of Criminology at Cambridge University and a BA in Politics and Economics from the Open University.
He also holds qualifications in Leadership and Public Policy for Senior Law Enforcement Officers (FBI National Executive Institute), Company Direction and Police Studies.