PONI appointment does not address concerns

Today’s announcement of the appointment of Tony McCusker to carry out the Dept of Justice investigation into the concerns raised by Sam Pollock’s resignation from the Police Ombudsman’s office last week, will not have reassured those who are concerned.

The issues of compromise of independence and interference from the Dept of Justice and civil servants as well as the PSNI in the workings of the office of the Police Ombudsman are of fundamental concern. That the investigation into these issues is to be carried out by the Dept of Justice is questionable – surely any investigation should have been removed from the very body implicated.

The office of the Ombudsman has been undermined by last week’s resignation – the process of remedy should not be allowed to further undermine this vital institution.