'Police failings in child abuse probe' - Ombudsman
The Police Ombudsman has said there were failings in the way both the PSNI and the RUC investigated claims of child sex abuse.
Last updated 13th Sep 2018
It relates to allegations made in 2010 by the now SDLP councillor Mairia Cahill.
Ms Cahill accused a man of sexually abusing her between 1997 and 1998, a claim that was support by two other women.
The former Irish senator also said she had been subjected to an IRA investigation into the matter in subsequent years.
PSNI investigations into those claims brought a number of people before the courts forprosecution.
However, the trial for the man she accused and those suspected of IRA involvement, collapsed in 2014, with all three women withdrawing their evidence, citing a lack of confidence in the process.
In 2015, a review by Sir Keir Starmer found the Public Prosecution Service had failed the women.
Ms Cahill also raised her concerns over the way the PSNI's work was carried out with the Police Ombudsman's office.
In releasing his findings, Dr Michael Maguire identified several failings in the way police had handled the case.
However, he said he had found no evidence to support claims certain people were not arrested as they were police informants or that political interference had been an issue.
"There is no doubt that this case was among those which caused considerable discussion among republicans and their political representatives," he said.
"Despite this, we have found no evidence of adverse political influence on the investigation."
Dr Maguire was critical of the decision not to hold a serious case review and and the circumstances of the police decision to split its investigation across two units: one which specialised in dealing with victims of sexual assault and one with experience in dealing with terrorist issues:
“I accept that police wanted to move quickly on the sexual allegations and to use their different expertise to maximum effect," he said.
"While I do not agree that this led to evidence being diluted, it did bring about a disjointed approach by police in their investigations and their treatment of Ms Cahill.
"There is no evidence they considered any other approach, such as creating a team with the range of skills to investigate these matters as one case."
On the back of his recommendations, four officers were identified for discipline.
Three of those were sanctioned, while a fourth had retired.
Another key area of failure was identified on the part of the RUC, which Dr Maguire said should have carried out further investigation into some claims made in 2000.
"When the RUC received this intelligence it was not disseminated and there is no evidence of any police investigation or enquiries as a result of it," said Dr Maguire.
"The material was sufficiently specific that had police undertaken even cursory inquiries they would have identified potential victims of abuse.
“I am satisfied that current police practices would not allow such information to go un-investigated today."
Ms Cahill said: "I am appalled at some of the information contained within the disclosure letter and I accept and commend the Ombudsman's officer.''
Ms Cahill said she was seeking an urgent meeting with PSNI chief constable George Hamilton about why the force did not have a serious case review and seeking assurances this will never happen again to anyone else.
She added: "Sinn Fein has as many questions to answer as the chief constable.''
"They allowed people to call me a liar.''
PSNI chief constable George Hamilton said: "At the heart of this report are three victims abused as children, who were then failed by their police service.
"I apologise unequivocally for the hurt and distress caused to them and for the failures in the police investigation.
"The Police Service of Northern Ireland fully supports the Office of the Police Ombudsman. It is an essential part of the mechanisms by which we can be held to account.
"The report found failures by the RUC in 2000, to share vital information which linked a man to the alleged abuse of children.
"Whilst PONI has stated that they are satisfied that current police practices would not allow such information to go un-investigated today, the report noted other failures in the PSNI's investigations.
"These standards fall very short of the high expectations that I and my officers set ourselves and that the public expect.
"I accept the report and we have since implemented all the recommendations made by PONI for changes to PSNI policies.
"There is now a better understanding of the importance and the need to work collaboratively across departments within the organisation.
"I can also assure the community that there have also been many changes to the PSNI since this initial report was made.
"One of these changes is the introduction of a dedicated Public Protection Branch in 2015, with specially trained officers with overall responsibility for protecting and safeguarding the most vulnerable members in our community and this demonstrates our commitment to building a safe, confident and peaceful Northern Ireland."