19/12/2001

Police Ombudsman and Chief Constable in talks

Northern Ireland Chief Constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan and the Police Ombudsman, Nuala O’Loan, have held talks over the Omagh bomb inquiry.

A public row between Sir Ronnie and Mrs O'Loan broke out last week following the publication of a critical report into the RUC handling of the Omagh investigation.

Sir Ronnie admitted last week his working relationship with the Police Ombudsman had been damaged following her report, albeit not irreparably.

The Chief Constable and ombudsman agreed to hold a meeting at the Police Ombudsman's offices in Belfast. The Police Service of Northern Ireland confirmed that the meeting held on Monday December 17 lasted more than an hour.

The Police Ombudsman Nuala O’Loan published a report criticising the way in which the Royal Ulster Constabulary headed up the investigation into the Omagh bomb last week. The report released on Wednesday December 12 described the leadership and judgment of Chief Constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan who headed the investigation into the Omagh Bomb as “flawed”. The report opened with: “This report is about a failure of leadership. The victims, their families and officers of the RUC have been let down by defective leadership, poor judgement and a lack of urgency.”

The Police Service of Northern Ireland Chief Constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan replied to the report with a scathing attack on what he described as its “gross and erroneous conclusions”. He said the report was neither a “fair, thorough nor rigorous” representation.

Sir Ronnie Flanagan, who earlier this year confirmed he is to retire in 2002, said he would be replying in full to the Ombudsman’s report early in the New Year. (AMcE)

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

23 June 2016
Police Officers Disciplined For Failing To Tell Doctor About Woman's Head Injuries
Two police officers have been disciplined after they failed to let their colleagues and a police doctor know that a woman had sustained a head injury, a Police Ombudsman investigation has concluded. The woman died from bleeding to the brain on 24 February 2014, the day after she suffered the injury.
14 December 2001
Ombudsman and Chief Constable rift is ‘not irreparable’
The Northern Ireland Chief Constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan has said relations with the Police Ombudsman have been damaged but not irreparably. He said in a BBC programme: “I have known the Police Ombudsman for many, many years and have a high regard for her. That is unquestionable. I have no doubt that relationships can be rebuilt.
21 April 2016
Officer Disciplined For Failing To Properly Investigate Assault On Boy
A police officer has been disciplined after failing to properly investigate an allegation that a man annoyed by children playing football near his car, attacked a 12-year-old boy by kicking him on the hand.
14 May 2012
Seven Police Officers Disciplined Over Pensioner's Death
Seven police officers have been disciplined over an investigation into the death of Lisburn man Jim Heasley in October 2010. The 70-year-old was assaulted as he walked home from Lagan Valley Pigeon Club. An investigation by the Police Ombudsman found a series of failings in the initial police response.
20 December 2001
Sinn Féin to discuss Omagh report with Police Ombudsman
Sinn Féin MP for West Tyrone Pat Doherty is to meet with the Police Ombudsman on Friday. The meeting with Ombudsman Nuala O’Loan has been called in order to discuss the findings of her report in which she criticised the RUC handling of the investigation into the 1998 Real IRA bombing.