Slugger today highlighted a story from Friday when it was reported that a Resident Magistrate delivered a damning verdict on an investigation by the Police Ombudsman's office bringing into question the integrity of the body in charge of investigating complaints against the police.

The Ombudsman's office was set up following the Good Friday Agreement to oversee the work of the police and ensure that any complaints about the police would be investigated through an "independent, impartial police complaints system". The prosecution persecution of Constable Keith McCabe, described by a magistrate as a "witch-hunt", made a mockery of that whole idea.

Following a GAA match in Enniskillen, a GAA fan and "dissident" republican, Brian O'Connor, was arrested after shouting "Up the RA!" at a passing Royal Black Preceptory parade. O'Connor then alleged that he was assaulted by Constable McCabe on the grounds that McCabe used excessive force arresting him.

"Witch-Hunt" Directed at "Brave" Officer

The Police Ombudsman's office "investigated" and as a result of it's "investigation" the Public Prosecution Service decided to file charges against the arresting officer. However, the so-called investigation was blasted by the magistrate as having "all the hallmarks of a witch hunt" after it emerged that a doctor who examined O'Connor found no evidence of swelling or bruising and that the Ombudsman's office interviewed witnesses who backed up the allegations while ignoring independent witnesses that contradicted these claims. Other witnesses were also ignored, including other officers on duty, members of the Royal Black Preceptory who were present and even the girlfriend of one of O'Connor's friends (also present).

Follow up:

Newton Emerson thinks questions must be asked of the Public Prosecution Service after it decided to drop the original prosecution against Mr O'Connor and prosecute Constable McCabe instead. Clearly questions also need to be asked of the Police Ombudsman's office itself.

I'm not happy or gloating as I write this. I am genuinely disappointed. It's true that on first hearing that the office of Police Ombudsman was to be created I was cynical that it would be merely a vehicle for republicans to 'get their own back' over perceived grievances with the police as an institution by making trumped up complaints about "brutality" because they know that unlike most other folk, in many eyes police officers are guilty until proven innocent and because they know that mud sticks. I had come round to the view that this was not the case and that it was just another expensive bureaucracy created to increase acceptance of the police among nationalists by giving them a safety net that allowed the police to be held to account, should the need arise, but that wouldn't be biased or manipulated. Apparently I was getting ahead of myself.

The Police Ombudsman's Vision is:
To strive for excellence in providing an independent impartial police complaints service in which the public and the police have confidence.
Police Ombudsman - Vision and Mission

This case showed the Ombudsman's office making a determined attempt to ruin the life of an innocent man. With more complaints arising about police effectiveness than fairness, and calls for more police resources to tackle different problems across Northern Ireland, the Ombudsman's office could well be doing more harm than good. Sadly a culture still exists in which the police are "legitimate targets" for some, whether that be targets of violence or targets of malicious prosecutions, its intention and effect is the same: to drive away potential police recruits fearful of being meted out similar treatment. The Ombudsman's office must not allow themselves to be party to this and must do something drastic to fix the obviously partial culture and cavalier disregard for the truth in its ranks.