Policing Board due to hold 'urgent meeting' with PSNI Chief Constable on Thursday

The Policing Board is due to hold an 'urgent meeting' with PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne on Thursday.

Members will discuss issues arising following Tuesday's High Court ruling that two junior officers were 'unlawfully disciplined' over an incident at a Troubles memorial in Belfast to allay any threat of Sinn Féin abandoning its support for policing in Northern Ireland.

The incident happened on the Ormeau Road in February 2021 during a service marking the anniversary of the February 1992 Sean Graham bookmakers attack in which five people were murdered.Following the judgement, the Chief Constable issued a statement in which he said he "accepted the findings" but added that neither officer has been disciplined to date.

A DUP Policing Board member said Simon Byrne has no option but to resign following Tuesday's judgment.

Trevor Clarke said Simon Byrne has lost the confidence of officers, politicians and the public.

However, Sinn Fein has said the court judgment is a “matter for the PSNI”.

Mr Clarke told the BBC Good Morning Ulster programme: “Where a judge has said a chief constable is prepared to sacrifice his young officers, how can the chief constable or anyone else expect anyone’s support after that?

“I spoke to the chief executive of the Policing Board yesterday (Tuesday) asking for a meeting with the chief constable, but we are at the stage now that it is difficult to see any credibility that the chief constable has left.

“I think if he was making that decision today, he would make that decision himself."

A Sinn Féin spokesperson said: “The arrest of a victim who was shot during the 1992 Sean Graham’s Bookies massacre at a commemoration was appalling.

“A small number of members from families of the victims gathered on the Ormeau Road in February 2021 to remember their loved ones and call for the publication of a delayed Police Ombudsman’s report into their murders by a loyalist gang.

“Sinn Féin very publicly raised our concerns with the Chief Constable and senior police officers on the treatment of victims and their families.

“The court’s ruling on the suspension of two police officers following this incident is a matter for the PSNI.”

SDLP Policing Board member Mark H Durkan said serious issues with policing had been exposed.

He added: “The chief constable, the Policing Board and all of us with an interest in securing the new beginning to policing must act urgently to address this situation.”

The two officers faced action in 2021 following the arrest of Mark Sykes, a survivor of a loyalist gun attack on the Sean Graham bookmakers shop in south Belfast in 1992.

The controversial incident unfolded when police challenged those attending a memorial event amid suspicions the size of the public gathering breached coronavirus regulations.

Mr Sykes was handcuffed and arrested in chaotic exchanges captured on social media.

The incident triggered a major controversy at the time, and sparked criticism of Mr Byrne.

Mr Byrne apologised for the PSNI’s handling of the event and it was announced that one officer was to be suspended and one repositioned.

Following a legal challenge by the Police Federation, Mr Justice Scoffield said: “Both the deputy chief constable and the chief constable were acutely aware of the threat of Sinn Fein withdrawing support for policing and/or withdrawing from the Policing Board if immediate action was not taken in respect of the officers’ duty status.

“It is impossible to avoid the conclusion that the pressure so exerted was, in large measure, a result of a wholly separate and unrelated incident which was wrongly conflated with the actions of the applicants in the incident in which they were involved.”

In a statement in response to the court’s findings on Tuesday, Mr Byrne said the incident was “difficult for everyone”.

He added: “Those paying their respects at a memorial event, the young officers who attended on behalf of the police service, and for the public who observed the footage of an incident which happened shortly afterwards which circulated across media platforms.

“As chief constable, I accept the findings of the court.

“In particular that there was a legal error in the way in which the public interest test was applied in deciding to suspend one officer and reposition another, rendering the action unlawful.

“It is important however to clarify that neither officer has been disciplined to date.

“This judgment relates to the decision to suspend one officer and reposition another whilst the Police Ombudsman conducted an investigation following a public complaint.

“We will of course take time to carefully consider the full judgment to ensure any lessons are learnt to prevent any future recurrence.”

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