Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Police chief ‘confident’ over misconduct probe
3 top officers are investigated Ombudsman ’will find nothing’
NORTHERN Ireland’s police chief insisted yesterday a probe into alleged misconduct in public office will not find anything wrong.
George Hamilton, Deputy Chief Constable Drew Harris and Assistant Chief Constable Mark Hamilton are all now being investigated by the Police Ombudsman.
It follows complaints about how the PSNI handled an inquiry into the awarding of a contract to supply vehicles to the force.
Mr Hamilton said he is “absolutely confident that there will not be misconduct established”.
And he insisted he has no intention of stepping aside while the probe is going on.
He said: “I’m confident in my ability and I have the passion to keep doing this job. I’ve got every confidence that the Ombudsman will be able to get on with his job and investigate the complaints that have been made.”
The probe comes after detectives quizzed nine people in 2014 over allegations about vehicle contracts.
They included former West Yorkshire chief constable Mark Gilmore – an EX-PSNI officer – and retired PSNI assistant chief constable Duncan Mccausland.
No charges were brought against any of the men, all of whom denied any wrongdoing. Now some of the men, including Mr Gilmore and Mr Mccausland, have claimed police documents were altered during the probe.
Mr Hamilton said: “I’m absolutely confident that there will not be misconduct established. People who made these complaints are entitled to make them and I’d encourage them to have the confidence that I have in the Police Ombudsman and allow him to get on with his job.
“We’ll allow the ombudsman to do his job and we’ll co-operate fully with that and let’s see where the evidence takes the ombudsman because I’m confident that the outcome for us, the senior officers which have had these complaints made against them, will be a positive one.”
The ombudsman’s office said its investigation would be treated as a “critical incident – an issue the outcome of which could have a significant impact on the person making the complaint, on the police or on the wider community”.
A spokesman added: “A team has been set up to look into these matters. It includes six investigators and has access to external legal advice.
“Given that some of the officers are above the level of Chief Superintendent, the Policing Board [the PSNI’S independent oversight body] has been notified. The office has not recommended the suspension of any of the police officers concerned.”
Sinn Fein’s Gerry Kelly said the ombudsman investigation is a “matter of huge concern to the public”.
The former Policing Board member said that while the ombudsman has not recommended the suspension of the officers that decision should be kept under review.
He added: “No one is above the law and every citizen is equal under the law. The investigation should be thorough and carried out with impartiality.”
SINN FEIN SPOKESMAN YESTERDAY