How not to handle the press
I haven't been involved in our coverage of the Omagh bomb trial, and the acquittal of Sean Hoey on all counts. But as a humble viewer of News 24 I witnessed a classic example of how not to handle the press. A PSNI press officer approached the live camera and told reporters that Chief Superintendent Norman Baxter would be making a statement but not taking questions.
The Chief Superintendent then made his statement which covered his team's initial investigation and how strong they believed their preliminary case to be. But his chronology halted well before the damage inflicted on his team's evidence in court or the judge's swingeing criticism and referral of the evidence given by two officers to the Police Ombudsman.
Not surprisingly reporters wanted this rather salient part of the story addressed, but when one tried to ask a question he was accused of breaking "the deal" with the police and pursuing a personal agenda. From what I saw there was no "deal" but simply a rule laid down by the PSNI.
It would have been commonsense for any statement to camera to have addressed the judge's ruling, even if only to express regret at the distress caused to the victims and an intention to study the details to ensure any shortcomings can be addressed. In fact, a written statement issued by police headquarters did just that. However the on camera appearance looked evasive and bad tempered.
As I write our internal news system informs me that the Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde is not available for interview, Sir Ronnie Flanagan is not available for interview and the Police Federation are not available for interview. Meanwhile the Human Rights Commissioner has backed the victims' families in calling for an independent cross-border inquiry.
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The behaviour of the PSNI Press Officer was disgraceful.
The fact that it was broadcast around the UK shows the PSNI in an extremely poor light.
The way the Police have behaved is a disgrace. And for Ronnie Flanagan to be an Inspector of Constabularies is a joke. He should either resign or be sacked. We have seen at first hand here in Northern Ireland what kind a person Sir Ronnie is. He can’t handle himself, let alone staff. Management skills to Ronnie must be like brains to Peter Hain. Non Existent...
How can anyone off any religion, belief or background support the PSNI after this. In a way we shouldn’t be surprised about this outcome as after all the PSNI can’t deal with basic crimes in towns and cities across this country. To lose evidence and make false statements is unforgivable. It will be predictable what the nationalists politicians will say but I would love to hear what Jim Allister and other anti unionists think.
As for the PSNI Press Officer. What a way to put yourself in the Public eye. He will always now be remembered as a Wally. His creditability and self respect went out the window when he opened his mouth to say "this wasn’t part of the deal". I hope the Government now do the right thing by the people by getting rid of these inefficient clowns and to hang Ronnie Flanagan or horse whip him.
One final point Mark can you clarify does the PSNI now stand for Police Service with No Integrity
the speaker of the assembly should now recall members to sit next thursday, subjudice no longer applies as lc weir's decision today means that no-one will ever be charged.