PSNI Officer to be Charged with Conspiracy to Pervert Justice

The Public Prosecution Service (PPS) has announced that an officer from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) will be charged with conspiring to pervert the course of justice. This development comes after an investigation conducted by the PSNI’s anti-corruption unit. The charges are connected to events that occurred subsequent to an incident in February 2021, which took place outside the Sean Graham betting shop located on the Ormeau Road in south Belfast. An altercation transpired when officers arrived at a Troubles memorial event, which was being held while Covid-19 restrictions were in effect. According to the PPS, the investigation focused on an allegation that the officer “had been involved in the generation of a false threat report intended to support an application to court for a witness anonymity order”. The officer has been notified of the decision to proceed with prosecution. Consequently, it is understood that his duty status is currently under review. The PPS stated that court documents are in the process of being finalised, and a date for his initial court appearance “will be generated in due course”. The service further indicated that it would refrain from making additional comments, as doing so could prejudice his trial by jury at Crown Court. In a separate announcement, the PPS also stated that a civilian, who had been reported for assaulting police during the Ormeau Road incident, would not face charges because of insufficient evidence. The PPS explained: “A decision on the assault file had to be delayed pending an outcome of the anti-corruption unit investigation.” This delay occurred because the allegations being investigated were pertinent to the likelihood of conviction on the assault file. Previously, the PPS had opted not to prosecute two junior officers who were investigated concerning assault allegations. Internal disciplinary measures taken against these officers were subsequently deemed unlawful, leading to a policing crisis that resulted in Simon Byrne’s resignation as chief constable.