- Northern Ireland Policing Board
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The Northern Ireland Policing Board is the police authority for Northern Ireland, charged with supervising the activities of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). It is a non-departmental public body composed of members of the Northern Ireland Assembly, and independent members of the community (including some members of political parties), who are appointed by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland using the Nolan principles for public appointments.
The board was reconstituted for a third time on 22 May 2007 and for the first time in the history of Sinn Féin, its MLAs took up their seats on the Policing Board following the party's decision to support the PSNI at its ardfheis on 28 January 2007. Sinn Féin was associated in the past with the Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA), which killed 271 Royal Ulster Constabulary officers and 12 police officers outside Northern Ireland during the Troubles.[1]
Contents
Omagh bomb investigation
On 7 February 2008, the Policing Board decided to appoint a panel of independent experts that will re-review the police investigation of the Omagh bombing. Some of the relatives of the bombing victims criticised the decision, saying that an international public inquiry covering both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland should be established instead. The review will determine whether enough evidence exists for further prosecutions. It will also investigate the possible perjury of two police witnesses made during Sean Hoey's trial.[2] Sinn Féin Policing Board member Alex Maskey stated that "Sinn Féin fully supports the families' right to call for a full cross-border independent inquiry while the Policing Board has its clear and legal obligation to scrutinise the police handling of the investigations." He also stated that "We recognise that the board has a major responsibility in carrying out our duty in holding the PSNI to account in the interests of justice for the Omagh families".[3]
Bomb attack
On 22 November 2009, a 400lb car bomb was driven to the Policing Board building in Belfast. It only partially exploded, and no one was hurt. Republican dissidents tried to ambush policemen on the same day.[4] The incident was one of several cross-border attacks carried out by hardline republicans in 2009-2010; others included the 2010 Newry car bombing.[5]
Members
The current board [6] was constituted on 1 June 2011 [7]
Democratic Unionist Party
- Jonathan Craig MLA
- Ian McCrea MLA
- David McIlveen MLA
- Adrian McQuillan MLA (1 June-17 October 2011) [8]
- Robin Newton MLA
Sinn Féin
- Gerry Kelly MLA
- Caitriona Ruane MLA
- Pat Sheehan MLA
Ulster Unionist Party
- Ross Hussey MLA
Social Democratic and Labour Party
- Conall McDevitt MLA
Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
- Trevor Lunn MLA
Independent
- Anne Connolly
- Ryan Feeney
- Stuart MacDonnell
- Joan O'Hagan
- Gearóid Ó hEára (Vice-Chairman)
- Brian Rea MBE JP (Chairman)
- Brian Rowntree
- Michael Wardlow
- Deborah Watters
As of December 2010, Gearóid Ó hEára was also a member of Sinn Féin.[9] Four Sinn Féin party members sat on the board at that time, equivalent to the total Democratic Unionist Party membership.
See also
- List of Government departments and agencies in Northern Ireland
References
- ^ Sutton, Malcolm. "Organisation by Status". An Index of Deaths from the Conflict in Ireland (revised and updated). University of Ulster. http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/cgi-bin/tab2.pl. Retrieved 24 October 2011.
- ^ "Omagh bomb investigation review". BBC News. Published February 7, 2008.
- ^ "Orde to outline the extent of dissident threat". The Belfast Telegraph. Published February 7, 2008.
- ^ Dissident republicans blamed for 400lb bomb after Christmas 'spectacular' threat The Times, 23 Nov 2009.
- ^ "Gardaí say dissidents no threat to Britain," Cormac O’Keeffe, September 18, 2010, Irish Examiner.
- ^ "The Board". Northern Ireland Policing Board. Northern Ireland Policing Board. http://www.nipolicingboard.org.uk/index/theboard.htm. Retrieved 24 October 2011.
- ^ "Newly elected Chair set to lead Board forward". Northern Ireland Policing Board News. Northern Ireland Policing Board. http://www.nipolicingboard.org.uk/article/?id=11853. Retrieved 24 October 2011.
- ^ "Previous Policing Board Members". Northern Ireland Policing Board History. Northern Ireland Policing Board. http://www.nipolicingboard.org.uk/index/theboard/history/previous-policing-board-members.htm. Retrieved 24 October 2011.
- ^ "Mr G Ó hEára". Northern Ireland Policing Board Register of Interests (December 2010). Northern Ireland Policing Board. http://www.nipolicingboard.org.uk/151993__board_members_-__register_of_interests_updated_decem-2.pdf. Retrieved 24 October 2011.
External links
- Northern Ireland Policing Board
- Madden & Finucane Solicitors: Information regarding the murder of Pat Finucane
Categories:- Organisations based in Northern Ireland
- Law enforcement in Northern Ireland
- Government of Northern Ireland
- Northern Ireland Office
- Non-departmental public bodies of the United Kingdom government
- Police authorities of the United Kingdom
- 2010 in Northern Ireland
- Northern Ireland peace process
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