Executive Office failing to answer questions about meeting where former Police Ombudsman Marie Anderson was raised
The Executive Office has so far failed to answer questions about a meeting between the Emma Little-Pengelly, Michelle O'Neill, and the Chief Constable, at which the latter raised concerns around the Police Ombudsman.
Both the First and Deputy First Ministers reportedly declined to discuss the matter.
The DUP has since told the News Letter that Ms Little-Pengelly did not "dismiss" concerns about the ombudsman at the meeting, but rather was respecting the "appropriate processes" for raising them.
The matter came into the public domain via a recent media report based on the minutes of the meeting with the Chief Constable, which took place some time in January 2025.
It said that these minutes “indicated that he [Mr Boutcher] had concerns raised with him regarding the Police Ombudsman’s return and independence and was seeking legal advice”.
The Police Ombudsman, Marie Anderson, had been on a leave of absence (due to illness, according to her office) from at least June 2024 to January 2025, at which point she resumed the role.
During this time she was under criminal investigation over what police described as a “domestic incident” (it was eventually announced that there was insufficient evidence to prosecute her for misconduct in public office or attempting to pervert the course of justice, and she has since retired).
The media report said that after the issue of "concerns" about the ombudsman had been raised by Mr Boutcher at the meeting, the minutes showed “the First Minister and Deputy First Minister indicated that they could not discuss this and that he should follow the appropriate process via the Department of Justice".
The News Letter sought a copy of the minutes of the meeting from the Executive Office, but was told this "will be treated as a Freedom of Information request" - something which gives public authorities the licence to wait up to a month (and sometimes longer) before responding.
Subsequently, UUP MLA Jon Burrows made enquiries of his own.
He asked a priority written question of the Executive Office seeking the reason for the meeting, where the meeting took place, the exact date of the meeting, and whether the Executive Office will release records of the meeting.
An answer was due by Thursday, January 15.
One had still not been forthcoming at time of writing.
A subsequent question from him, asking when they will answer the question above, has likewise yet to be answered.
UUP MLA Doug Beattie told the News Letter that the account of the meeting reported above (in the Belfast Telegraph) shows that concerns about the ombudsman were "dismissed by the First and Deputy First Minister".
The Executive Office did not respond to this comment.
However, the DUP replied: “As the minutes stated and the initial report indicated, it was indicated to the Chief Constable that the appropriate processes should be followed.
"This was not a dismissal of concerns that were shared by many people but a respect for those processes.
"There has been significant damage to public confidence in the Ombudsman’s office and the task of rebuilding that is significant.
"The Ombudsman left post on December 31, and we welcome the fresh start that presents.
"The focus should now be on filling the vacancy that exists.”
It was revealed last month that Marie Anderson had tendered her resignation back in September 2023 in the wake of the "domestic incident", but that the Department of Justice permanent secretary Richard Pengelly had decided no action would be taken over the resignation (which came during a period when Stormont had no ministers in post).