UUP set to meet with PSNI chief amid calls for fresh Bobby Storey inquiry

By Q Radio News

Members of the Ulster Unionist Party will meet with the PSNI Chief Constable later to discuss the fallout from the funeral of Bobby Storey last June. 

A watchdog report published earlier this week - looking at how police handled the event - found there was no bias.

However UUP MLA Mike Nesbitt is now calling on the justice minister to commission a fresh inquiry.

The Strangford representative and policing board member says the findings of Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) “simply will not cut it as an appropriate and complete review of events”.

Mr Nesbitt added: “The HMIC report is incomplete, inconclusive and from what we have heard since publication, inaccurate. 

“It is certainly not the ‘comprehensive’ review the Justice Minister described it as when she welcomed its publication on Monday.”

“Naomi Long commissioned this report. 

“It now falls to her to fix its shortcomings. 

“There are serious questions to be asked about policy, not least the lack of appropriate record keeping by the PSNI regarding their communications with the funeral organisers.”

Mr Nesbitt said the lack of paperwork is reminiscent of the “culture of lax record keeping” exposed by the RHI inquiry. 

“I recall Sir Patrick Coghlin’s stinging criticism of ‘government by Post-It note’,” he added. 

“The Justice Minister cannot hide behind the excuse that these are operational matters. 

They are matters of policy and culture. They are also impacting very negatively on public perception and confidence in the criminal justice system.

“This is core business for the Justice Minister`s Department. 

“It is time for Naomi Long to step up. It is her duty to do so and failure will let down both the rank and file of the PSNI and the community they serve and protect.”