Police Ombudsman to ‘take temporary leave of absence’
Northern Ireland’s Police Ombudsman has announced she is to “take a temporary leave of absence with immediate effect”.
Marie Anderson was due to retire in December, but said “current commentary” was detracting from the focus of her work with bereaved families.
Her decision comes after it was reported that the Public Prosecution Service had received a file of evidence “reporting one individual for potential offences of perverting the course of justice and misconduct in public office”, following a police investigation into an alleged incident at the Ombudsman’s home in Holywood, County Down, in September 2023.
Mrs Anderson said: “Although I had decided to retire in December this year, which would have allowed me to fulfil my commitments to delivering the outcomes of investigations to a number of bereaved families, it has become increasingly clear that current commentary is detracting from the focus of that work.
“I am extremely grateful to those families who put their trust in me, and it is their interests which are at the heart of my decision today to take a temporary leave of absence with immediate effect.
“In my absence, I am delegating authority to my chief executive and senior staff as appropriate. This will ensure the vital work of the office continues, as there is no legal provision for the Office to function without a Police Ombudsman.
“I have every confidence in all my staff and know they will work diligently and am grateful for their support in recent times.”
Justice Minister Naomi Long said: “Public confidence in the role of the office of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland is crucial and I acknowledge Marie Anderson’s decision to delegate her powers of office to the chief executive and senior staff.
“This is a complex and sensitive situation, and we should not seek to pre-empt the ultimate outcome of the process.
“It is now important that due process is allowed to run its course, free from further public speculation.”
DUP Policing Board member Trevor Clarke said the announcement on Tuesday (June 17) that the Police Ombudsman is taking temporary leave of absence has “come late in the day” following an investigation that has been ongoing since 2023.
The South Antrim MLA said: “The Police Ombudsman should have stepped aside at the time of the incident, but an announcement has only been made today that she will take a leave of absence a few months before she intends to retire.
“The DUP has been consistently raising this issue at the Policing Board, but the statement today appears only to have come following more significant public discussion on the news. During that time there has been continued damage to public confidence in the Ombudsman’s office.
“Previously the Ombudsman had said it wouldn’t be possible for the office to continue to function if she stepped aside, but now responsibility has been delegated to other staff. Unfortunately, today’s statement doesn’t end the saga and uncertainty continues.”