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Irish Post
03-07-2025
- Irish Post
Ombudsman finds police use of baton rounds during Ballymena riots was ‘proportional'
A REVIEW of the PSNI's response to the recent riots in Ballymena has found they showed 'considerable restraint' in the face of the violence aimed at them. The Police Ombudsman of Northern Ireland has assessed the use of 'Attenuating Energy Projectiles' (AEPs), known as baton rounds, during the public disorder which erupted in the Co. Antrim town last month. In their report they concluded that police commanders showed 'considerable restraint' in their use of force during the incidents. Police used AEPs 32 times on five dates to help control the disorder, with each incident subsequently assessed by Police Ombudsman investigators. 'Assessing the police use of force in response to the disorder required extensive work, including the review of more than 100 pieces of body worn video, amounting to more than 20 hours of footage,' Chief Executive of the Police Ombudsman's Office, Hugh Hume, said. 'It is clear from this evidence that police commanders did not authorise any use of force until all other options had been exhausted,' he explained. 'In the face of sustained and significant violence, which resulted in multiple police officers being injured, police showed considerable restraint and a consistent, proportionate response.' Last month, the Police Ombudsman's office also confirmed that there were no grounds to open an investigation into the discharge of firearms by police officers during an incident in Bangor. However, Mr Hume emphasised that every 'use of force' case is considered individually, and that two recent convictions of police officers demonstrates that those who misuse their powers will be held to account. In the most recent case in April 2025, a former police officer's conviction for common assault was upheld on appeal, after an unwarranted use of PAVA spray, which is an irritant similar to pepper spray, during an arrest. The case arose from an incident at a filling station in Coalisland when a man was stopped by police and told he was being searched under the Justice and Security Act. When the man challenged the police officers, he was arrested for disorderly behaviour. Body worn video captured the arrest and showed that the police officer, Andrew Forde, who also had his baton drawn, sprayed the man with PAVA spray without warning, before handcuffing him and placing him in the back of a police car. Forde was prosecuted and convicted following the Police Ombudsman investigation. In 2024, a former police constable, David Dumican, was convicted of causing grievous bodily harm to a man during an incident in Lurgan in June 2018. Dumican received a 15-month sentence, suspended for two years, after he struck the man on the head with a police baton with such force that he required emergency medical treatment and had to be placed into an induced coma. 'In many instances where we investigate use of force, we will identify appropriate responses and good practice on the part of police,' Mr Hume said. 'However, these prosecutions show that, when the force used is incompatible with applicable standards and potentially criminal, we will not hesitate to pursue those cases. 'These are examples of impartial, evidence-based investigation in action, which should provide reassurance to police officers that they can, and should, use force when it is appropriate and proportionate, while also contributing to building public confidence in policing,' Mr Hume added. The Police Ombudsman received two complaints about use of force in the recent public disorder. One, which concerned a member of the public being hit by AEPs, was closed as being without foundation. A further complaint in which a member of the public alleges they were hit on the leg with a baton, remains open. See More: Ballymena, Batons, Police Ombudsman For Northern Ireland, Riots
ITV News
01-07-2025
- ITV News
PSNI used 'considerable restraint' firing baton rounds during Northern Ireland riots
A review has found the PSNI showed 'considerable restraint' in their use of baton rounds during recent rioting in Northern Ireland. Chief executive of the Police Ombudsman's Office Hugh Hume said the PSNI used Attenuating Energy Projectiles (AEPs) 32 times on five dates to help control disorder. Violence erupted in Ballymena in June after the alleged sexual assault of a girl in the town. Two 14-year-old boys, who spoke to a court through a Romanian interpreter, were charged with attempted rape. A peaceful protest about the alleged assault was followed by attacks on police and properties housing ethnic minorities, which was described by police as 'racist thuggery'. The disturbances lasted for several nights and spread to other areas of Northern Ireland including Portadown, Larne, Belfast, Carrickfergus, Londonderry and Coleraine. Police also dealt with several nights of disorder in Londonderry, which Chief Constable Jon Boutcher described as 'blatant sectarian violence'. More than 80 police officers were injured in the violence across several locations. The PSNI use of AEPs, commonly known as baton rounds, has been criticised by some victims' organisations in Northern Ireland. Mr Hume said: 'Assessing the police use of force in response to the disorder required extensive work, including the review of more than 100 pieces of body worn video, amounting to more than 20 hours of footage. 'It is clear from this evidence that police commanders did not authorise any use of force until all other options had been exhausted. 'In the face of sustained and significant violence, which resulted in multiple police officers being injured, police showed considerable restraint and a consistent, proportionate response.' The Police Ombudsman received two complaints about use of force in the recent public disorder. One, which concerned a member of the public being hit by AEPs, was closed as being without foundation. A further complaint in which a member of the public alleges they were hit on the leg with a baton, remains open.
Irish Times
26-06-2025
- Irish Times
NI ombudsman recommends review of police investigation into murder of Marian Beattie
An independent review has been recommended of the police investigation into the murder of teenager Marian Beattie in Co Tyrone in 1973. It comes after the Office of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland found 'numerous failings' in how police handled the case, and just eight documented contacts with police and 18-year-old Beattie's family. It also found that the three suspects had paramilitary links, and two were former police officers. The ombudsman's chief executive, Hugh Hume, said Ms Beattie's family did not receive the service they deserved from the police. READ MORE Ms Beattie's partially clothed body was found at the bottom of a quarry. She had been attending a charity dance at Hadden's Garage in Aughnacloy on Friday, March 30th, 1973 to listen to her brother playing in the band. The teenager was last seen leaving the dance with a young man just after 1am and walking in the direction of Hadden's Quarry. Her partially clothed body was discovered at the bottom of the nearby quarry shortly after 6am the following morning. No one has ever been charged or convicted over her murder. In 2017, then Police Service of Northern Ireland chief constable George Hamilton referred the case to the ombudsman. The ombudsman investigation found that police failed to ensure that all lines of inquiry were progressed, that all suspects were interviewed, that all alibis were checked, and that discrepancies between some suspects' accounts and other evidence were examined. An independent review has been recommended. Mr Hume said they found organisational and systemic failings. 'In 50-plus years after her murder, up until earlier this year, there were only eight documented contacts between the police and the family,' Mr Hume said. 'It is understandable that they have lost confidence and trust in the police. 'Although our inquiries found no evidence of individual police criminality, nor misconduct by any serving officer, the police investigation of Marian's murder has been undermined by organisational and systemic failings.' The ombudsman investigation also considered information from the Beattie family that police made comments on four separate occasions that led them to believe there were potential links between suspects and either police, military/security services or paramilitaries. They found while there were no police records of this being discussed, available information suggests 'it is more likely than not that such comments had been made'. The ombudsman's office also said it found that three suspects had paramilitary links, and two were former police officers. In addition, while clear lines of inquiry were outstanding in relation to the suspects known to have potential paramilitary and police connections, this was not unique to these suspects. The investigation was described as being unable to establish whether or not these connections had any impact upon the police investigation. Mr Hume said they hope the independent review they have recommended may bring Ms Beattie's killer to justice. 'Although our investigation has found significant errors and omissions during the police inquiries into Marian's murder, it is my hope that the independent review we have recommended will ensure that every effort is made to uncover the truth about her murder, and to finally bring her killer, if still alive, to justice,' Mr Hume said. He added that while Ms Beattie was murdered in 1973, lessons of relevance to current policing could be learned. 'At the time of Marian's murder the police faced significant policing challenges, with hundreds of murders each year being attributed to 'the Troubles', and that context was taken into account during our inquiries,' Mr Hume said. 'Nevertheless, we must learn from past errors and omissions, particularly if we are to properly address the problem of violence against women and girls in local society. Northern Ireland has the second-highest levels of femicide in western Europe. 'Unfortunately, the police ombudsman has found a similar lack of investigative rigour and pre-emptive conclusions in some recent PSNI femicide investigations. 'Police Ombudsman investigations are critical to learning lessons, and it is my hope that our recommendation for an independent review will help to ensure that future police inquiries into Marian's murder are comprehensive and focused.' -PA
The Independent
26-06-2025
- The Independent
Independent review recommended for police investigation into murdered teenager
An independent review has been recommended of the police investigation into the murder of a teenager in Co Tyrone in 1973. It comes after the Office of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland found 'numerous failings' in how police handled the case, and just eight documented contacts with police and 18-year-old Marian Beattie's family. It also found that the three suspects had paramilitary links, and two were former police officers. The Police Ombudsman's chief executive, Hugh Hume, said Ms Beattie's family did not receive the service they deserved from the police. Ms Beattie's partially clothed body was found at the bottom of a quarry. She had been attending a charity dance at Hadden's Garage in Aughnacloy on Friday March 30 1973 to listen to her brother playing in the band. The teenager was last seen leaving the dance with a young man just after 1am and walking in the direction of Hadden's Quarry. No one has ever been charged or convicted over her murder. In 2017, then Police Service of Northern Ireland chief constable George Hamilton referred the case to the Police Ombudsman. The Ombudsman investigation found that police failed to ensure that all lines of inquiry were progressed, that all suspects were interviewed, that all alibis were checked, and that discrepancies between some suspects' accounts and other evidence were examined. An independent review has been recommended. Mr Hume said they found organisational and systemic failings. 'In 50-plus years after her murder, up until earlier this year, there were only eight documented contacts between the police and the family,' he said. 'It is understandable that they have lost confidence and trust in the police,' he said. 'Although our inquiries found no evidence of individual police criminality, nor misconduct by any serving officer, the police investigation of Marian's murder has been undermined by organisational and systemic failings.' The Ombudsman investigation also considered information from the Beattie family that police made comments on four separate occasions that led them to believe there were potential links between suspects and either police, military/security services or paramilitaries. They found while there were no police records of this being discussed, available information suggests 'it is more likely than not that such comments had been made'. The Ombudsman's Office also said it found that three suspects had paramilitary links, and two were former police officers. In addition, while clear lines of inquiry were outstanding in relation to the suspects known to have potential paramilitary and police connections, this was not unique to these suspects. The investigation was described as being unable to establish whether or not these connections had any impact upon the police investigation. Mr Hume said they hope the independent review they have recommended may bring Ms Beattie's killer to justice. 'Although our investigation has found significant errors and omissions during the police inquiries into Marian's murder, it is my hope that the independent review we have recommended will ensure that every effort is made to uncover the truth about her murder, and to finally bring her killer, if still alive, to justice,' he said. He added that while Ms Beattie was murdered in 1973, lessons of relevance to current policing could be learned. 'At the time of Marian's murder the police faced significant policing challenges, with hundreds of murders each year being attributed to 'the Troubles', and that context was taken into account during our inquiries,' he said. 'Nevertheless, we must learn from past errors and omissions, particularly if we are to properly address the problem of violence against women and girls in local society. Northern Ireland has the second-highest levels of femicide in western Europe. 'Unfortunately, the Police Ombudsman has found a similar lack of investigative rigour and pre-emptive conclusions in some recent PSNI femicide investigations. 'Police Ombudsman investigations are critical to learning lessons, and it is my hope that our recommendation for an independent review will help to ensure that future police inquiries into Marian's murder are comprehensive and focused.' Solicitor Darragh Mackin, acting for Ms Beattie's family, said the report should 'serve as a lightning strike reminder of the need for urgent and immediate action to ensure no other women are systematically failed by the very state that should protect them'. He said the family 'now look forward to engaging with the Chief Constable in the weeks ahead'. 'The facts of this investigation speak for themselves. In 50 years the police contacted this family a mere eight times. Such blatant disregard for the family of Marian is indicative of the inherent unenthusiastic approach adopted,' he said. 'Today's revelations confirm that three suspects had paramilitary links and two were former police officers. The family have always believed that such connections have played a direct role in the obfuscation and procrastination adopted, in failing to investigate Marian's murder.' He went on: 'Marian's report confirms that women in this jurisdiction have not been safe for five decades. 'Today's report should serve as a lightning strike reminder of the need for urgent and immediate action to ensure no other women are systematically failed by the very state that should protect them. 'Gender based violence had no place in society in 1973 and it has no place in 2025. In Marian's memory, it is time for action.'
