Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
PSNI CHIEF: SORRY TO FAMILIES
Officer suspended in probe over arrest at memorial
A PSNI officer has been suspended after a survivor of a massacre was arrested at a memorial event.
Chief Constable Simon Byrne apologised to families who gathered at the Sean Graham bookmakers on Belfast’s Ormeau Road on Friday.
Mark Sykes – who was shot during the 1992 loyalist gun attack – was arrested but
later released after officers tried to break up the crowd. Chief Constable Byrne said: “While the Police Ombudsman has just commenced her initial investigation into yesterday’s events on the Ormeau Road, I felt it necessary to address the widespread public concern.
“It is I think important people understand police did not attempt to prevent the commemoration.
“After the commemoration had finished, the officers present became involved in an incident with a man who had been there.
“What followed was not reflective of the values of the Police Service of Northern Ireland.
“Having reviewed the body worn video from yesterday’s incident on the Ormeau Road a decision has been taken to suspend one officer and re-position a second officer. I want to apologise to all those present and to those who have been affected by what they have seen.”
Peter Magee, 18, James Kennedy, 15, Christy Doherty, 51, William McManus, 54, and 66-year-old Jack Duffin were killed when loyalist gunmen opened fire on February 5, 1992. Mr Byrne
reflected on a tough week for the PSNI and said he wanted to “draw a line under events and move forward”.
He added: “I will be writing to the legal representatives of families who lost loved ones in the 1992 atrocity and offering to meet them in person to listen to their concerns and to apologise.”
Later asked by the media if he was considering his position, the chief constable replied: “I am not a quitter.” Responding to the PSNI Chief Constable’s latest statement, the Ormeau Road families issued the following statement through the Relatives For Justice group.
It said: “The past 24 hours have been deeply traumatic and stressful for all of the families and survivors of the Ormeau Road Sean Grahams’ Bookmakers atrocity.
“The families are still processing and coming to terms with these awful events.
“They note the statement of the Chief Constable this evening.
“They will in due course consider and assess this statement in full and respond if necessary.
“This incident is far from having a line drawn under it, not least the status of Mark Sykes’ arrest and the potential for charges.”