O mbudsman sends file to police over weapon find

THE Police Ombudsman’s Office has sent a file to the PSNI for consideration following the controversial discovery of a gun and ammunition near Dungannon.

The Ombudsman’s involvement—whichrelatestothefind at a house which was undergoing renovation work at Tamnamore last June — was prompted after police initially denied anything of that nature had been found.

A spokesperson for the Police Ombudsman’s Office said: “We can confirm that a file has gone to the PSNI for their consideration in relation to this case. However, it would be inappropriate at this stage for us to comment on the outcome of our investigation.”

After media enquiries at the time of the find, the PSNI subsequently confirmed that the gun, which is understood to be of some vintage, had been “handed in to police on June 21, 2016, along with some assorted ammunition”.

A PSNI spokesperson said the weapon was “in a very poor condition” and would be expedited for re-examination to establish if it could be linked to any historical incidents.

Police had said there was “no investigative need” to issue the information proactively.

The case prompted calls from victims’ campaigners and politicians for transparency around the discovery of the weapon in an area of Co Tyrone which witnessed several attacks by the UVF’s notorious Glenanne Gang during the Troubles.