A Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) officer is to be prosecuted for conspiring to pervert the course of justice following a controversial incident at a Troubles commemoration three years ago.
The Northern Ireland Public Prosecution Service (PPS) confirmed the move on Wednesday following an internal investigation by the PSNI’s anti-corruption unit (ACU) into the policing of an event on the Ormeau Road in Belfast during Covid-19 restrictions on February 5th, 2021.
On the day of the Ormeau Road annual wreath-laying service in 2021, which was attended by up to 30 people, one man who had been shot and injured in the 1992 attack was detained on suspicion of disorderly behaviour and put in handcuffs.
The high-profile case led to two junior PSNI officers being disciplined for an arrest at the event, which was a service marking the anniversary of the February 1992 Sean Graham bookmakers massacre in which five people were murdered and nine others injured by loyalist paramilitaries.
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A court judge later found that the disciplinary action against the officers was unlawful – a ruling that led to the resignation of former PSNI chief constable Simon Byrne.
In a statement, prosecutors said their decision to prosecute the individual on indictment was taken after it had considered the file submitted by the ACU, which had examined an allegation that a police officer had been involved in the “generation of a false threat report”.
This report was intended to “support an application to the court for a witness anonymity order”, the PPS said. The individual and all relevant parties were informed of the decision on Wednesday. It is understood the officer’s duty service is being reviewed.
Court papers are now being finalised ahead of his first appearance at court.
On the day of the Ormeau Road annual wreath-laying service in 2021, which was attended by up to 30 people, one man who had been shot and injured in the 1992 attack was detained on suspicion of disorderly behaviour and put in handcuffs.
On Wednesday, the PPS also issued a decision in relation to a separate police investigation file received in May 2022 reporting one civilian for an assault on police during the service.
No prosecution will take place in relation to this case due to “insufficient evidence” to provide a reasonable prospect of conviction for any offence.
Prosecutors said its decision in relation to the alleged assault case had to be delayed pending the outcome of the ACU investigation.
“This was because the allegations under investigation by the ACU were relevant to the prospects of conviction on the assault file. All decision-making on both files was undertaken independently, impartially and in line with the Code for Prosecutors.”
The charge of conspiring to pervert the course of justice is prosecuted on indictment and the officer’s case will be heard by a jury in the Crown Court.
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