Press Release in Relation to Ombudsmans Report

The Police Federation for NI rejects the Ombudsmans Report on the shooting dead of Stephen Colwell.

His death is a tragedy. However it was a result of circumstances created by his immediate, threatening and reckless criminal behaviour.  The officers confronted at the scene acted in good faith and were exonerated by the PPS.
 
The Ombudsman's Report is unhelpful and is totally dependent upon lengthy analysis and opinion on actions taken in split seconds and under genuine fear of lethal threat to the lives of police and public.
 
The report raises serious issues of failure to regard the human rights of officers and their right to be free from unfair public comment once cleared by the formal judicial process and by the PSNI's internal post incident procedures.
ENDS
 
Terry Spence QPM
Chairman
Police Federation for Northern Ireland

Release Date - 15 Dec 2011