Statement by TUV Mid Ulster representative Glen Moore:
“This morning’s revelations about the treatment of a PSNI officer who has been cleared by the Police Ombudsman following the incident on the Ormeau Road should concern all who believe in justice. It was clear from relatively early on in this case that the PSNI and the Chief Constable had rushed to judgement. Importantly, it has been known for months that the officers on the ground on the day only intervened after receiving direction by a superior officer.
“In his zeal to appease the clamour on social media and in his eagerness to be seen to jump to the tune of Michelle O’Neill – who is the last person who should have anything to say about Covid regulations – the Chief Constable blamed a rookie officer who had sought, received and acted upon guidance from his superiors and threw him under the bus.
“TUV made clear at the time that the public comments by the Chief Constable and his willingness to treat a young officer like this was something he couldn’t recover from. It remains our view that he has lost the confidence of the public and his officers and needs to go.
“It is about time the PSNI started standing up for the general public and even its officers rather than the top brass repeatedly tripping over themselves to meet whatever the latest Sinn Fein demand is”.