Chief Constable Simon Byrne quizzed on Paul Quinn murder and status of PIRA

The Paul Quinn murder, bonfires, parades and the status of the Provisional IRA have all been discussed by the PSNI chief constable at a session of the Stormont justice committee.
By Mark Rainey
Published 13th Feb 2020, 18:44 BST
PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne appeared before Stormont's justice committeePSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne appeared before Stormont's justice committee
PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne appeared before Stormont's justice committee

Simon Byrne was reluctant to provide information regarding live criminal investigations – including a series of ongoing historic sex abuse cases – and directed questions around an assessment of the Provisional IRA to the secretary of state and the Northern Ireland Office.

Mr Byrne said: “The status of the Provisional IRA is not for me to comment on.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The DUP’s Paul Frew also expressed surprise to the chief constable that the PSNI had effectively warned some of those holding ‘on-the-run’ letters that arrests were being planned – as published by the News Letter last week.

Mr Frew claimed the revelation was “sub-standard professionalism” which could result in some of those terror suspects fleeing the jurisdiction.

Mr Byrne also fielded a number of questions around the 2007 murder of Crossmaglen man Paul Quinn.

He said police in the Irish Republic were the lead investigators, but said his officers would take statements from anyone with new information and pass them to the Garda.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

However, Mr Bryne said the PSNI would “not normally suggest lines of inquiry” to another police force, and had to “respect protocol and due process”.

He was also asked to comment on the policing operation that led to a flute band being detained at the roadside in Londonderry last year – due to the presence of Parachute Regiment insignia on their band uniforms.

The chief constable said a review of the PSNI operation had been carried out by Police Scotland and was “largely endorsed” despite some issues “around the edges”.

NI Prison Service director general Ronnie Armour also addressed the committee yesterday afternoon.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Mr Armour expressed regret that the percentage of Catholics in the ranks is only 15%, but said the threat posed by dissident republicans is a “contributory factor”.

Asked if he would like to see a 50/50 recruitment process introduced, Mr Armour said that would be a political decision, and added: “I don’t think we can do more to try and encourage applicants from the Catholic community.”