Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:-
“The Chief Constable’s behaviour not only highlights his disregard for the Service he is supposed to lead but, frankly, suggests a lack in his own sense of dignity.
“To defend a case as a respondent is one thing, but to then decide to become the proactive protagonist by appealing the judicial finding is to deliberately try and put down the successful junior constables. His antics are made worse by his initial acceptance of the outcome.
“Presumably, any appeal has to be a corporate decision, whether by the Senior Management Team, or others. Any such corporate decision to appeal the very clear and emphatic findings means all taking that decision are complicit in the attempt to humiliate and uphold the discipline of the junior officers. That is not where the PSNI corporately should go. Bad enough to have a rogue Chief Constable out of touch with his officers, but if the corporate leadership of PSNI takes that stance, then, confidence in the whole organisation is on the line. Thus, the Senior Management Team needs to refuse to back and thereby block any appeal.
“The reality and only available ground of appeal is for the PSNI to argue – as they did in the court below – that political considerations can legitimately shape and determine an operational decision. That is a staggering contention and one which Schofield J rightly rejected.
“This is a Chief Constable who not only has failed catastrophically but who now wants to lead the PSNI into legitimising Sinn Fein pulling his puppet strings – because, that is the essence of what the Court of Appeal would be asked to accept!
“Little wonder more level heads across the PSNI are appalled. I trust they prevail and that soon we are rid of the embarrassment that is Simon Byrne.”