"Political dinosaur" Harris not right man for top Garda role - victims group

Q Radio News & Press Association

A leading victims campaigner has slammed the appointment of former PSNI Deputy Chief Constable Drew Harris as Commissioner of An Garda Siochana.

The Commissioner role became vacant after Noirin O'Sullivan resigned in September last year.

Mr Harris, the PSNI's Deputy Chief Constable, who was in charge of its intelligence branch, was shortlisted with five other candidates for the top Garda role.

He will become the first "outsider" to fill the role as Garda Commissioner and will now be responsible for the general direction of An Garda Siochana.

He will receive a salary of 250,000 euro after it was increased from 180,000 euro in order to attract interest in the position.

Mr Harris's father, Alwyn was killed in an IRA bomb in 1989.

His appointment comes following an international selection process run by the Public Appointments Service on behalf of the Policing Authority.

Mr Harris, who has 34 years policing experience including 12 years in senior roles, was appointed to the rank of PSNI Assistant Chief Constable responsible for Crime Operations in 2006 and has served as Deputy Chief Constable since 2014.

He has managed serious crime investigations, was responsible for all intelligence gathering, operations and analytical support for the PSNI and worked closely with the Gardai.

Aged in his early 50s, the father-of-four has a degree in politics and economics and a masters in criminology.

Mark Thompson, CEO of Relatives for Justice, has described the way Mr. Harris has dealt with legacy affairs as "political policing"

The organisation has been heavily critical of him, saying his control of the Historical Enquiries Team, as head of PSNI Crime Operations Branch, was a clear disregard for the aim of independent legacy investigations.

Relatives for Justice also said Mr. Harris served to protect the interests of the RUC (as a former officer) by removing investigative functions of the HET, which they say was at the expense of bereaved families.

However, others have welcomed it.

PSNI Chief Constable George Hamilton said: "While there is no doubt that the PSNI will be a poorer place without his contribution, he will remain a colleague when he takes over the leadership of An Garda Siochana.

"This appointment can only serve to build on what is already a close working relationship between the PSNI and An Garda Siochana.

"The mutual desire of both organisations to keep people safe will support us in overcoming the many challenges we jointly face, including Brexit. "He is a man of unfathomable strength, humility and grace and I have been privileged to have him serve as my Deputy Chief Constable for almost four years."

Congratulations to Drew Harris on his appointment as commissioner of An Garda Síochána. Look forward to continuing a close working relationship with him. https://t.co/SVAcgJXizT pic.twitter.com/qKKQTdsWVE

— George Hamilton (@ChiefConPSNI) June 26, 2018

Karen Bradley, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, said: "I want to offer my congratulations to Drew Harris on his appointment. "This is a critically important post and I am delighted that An Garda Siochana will be able to draw on Drew's vast policing experience which is as broad as it is deep.

"I would also like to place on record the UK Government's gratitude for his personal and professional contribution to public service and policing, most recently as Deputy Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland."

Police Federation for Northern Ireland Chair, Mark Lindsay, spoke to Q Radio.

Northern Ireland's Department of Justice Permanent Secretary Nick Perry said: "Mr Harris takes with him the gratitude of all his colleagues in the Department of Justice. "His dedication, professionalism, and significant contribution to policing in Northern Ireland is exemplary.

"I offer him best wishes for the future, confident in the knowledge that his experience and sound judgment will be of enormous benefit in his new role."