McCusker To Lead Police Ombudsman Probe

The Stormont Justice Minister has revealed who will run an investigation into allegations over the NI Police Ombudsman's Office.

The outgoing Executive Minister, David Ford, said today that retired civil servant Tony McCusker would conduct the independent review into allegations made against Department of Justice civil servants by the departing Chief Executive, Sam Pollock.

Mr Pollock claimed that he observed systematic and sustained interference and meddling by senior civil servants and he also refers to a significant lowering of the professional independence between the Office of the Ombudsman and the PSNI.

He also said that when he raised concerns about these issues he was subjected to personal and damaging attacks, including false and malicious allegations made by officials from the Department of Justice.

Now, Mr Ford has said that this high level review will initially gather evidence in respect of the allegations made against Department of Justice civil servants.

Specifically this will examine if officials have interfered and meddled in the affairs and governance of the Office and also if officials have made false and malicious allegations against the Chief Executive.

Naming Mr McCusker, he said he is a former senior civil servant and currently Chair of the Community Relations Council.

He will provide an initial report to the Minister and the Department's Permanent Secretary by 16 May on the allegations made and whether they warrant further investigation.

Alliance party Leader, David Ford said: "I am determined that this matter be addressed as urgently and robustly as possible.

"That is why, when announcing this independent review, I outlined the need for these serious allegations to be documented and substantiated as an important first step.

"Mr McCusker will now examine the issues raised and provide an initial report on the allegations made."

Mr McCusker retired from the Northern Ireland Civil Service on 30 August 2005 and since then has undertaken a wide range of advisory work in Northern Ireland and in several European countries.

He is also the Chairman of the NI Community Relations Council and the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland.

Previously he was Director in the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister with responsibility for the Executive Secretariat and Corporate Services from December 1999 to January 2002.

He was Deputy Secretary in Department of Agriculture and Rural Development until 2005 and was responsible for the Department's Policy Group.

See: Police Ombudsman's Office Faces Probe

(BMcC/GK)