Scientist alleges police meddling

Belfast Crown Court has heard senior police have tried for years to interfere with the workings of independent forensic scientists to cover up alleged bungling of cases.

Ann Irwin of Northern Ireland's independent Forensic Science Agency alleged on Tuesday that police had repeatedly asked her to compromise her work, saying all such demands were refused.

The senior scientific officer told Lord Justice Nicholson that the requests were made by police who had failed to follow proper procedures.

Mrs Irwin said they would try to "retrieve" the situation by requesting tests to be made for firearms' residue on clothing and other materials taken from suspects and crime scenes, despite the possibility of contamination.

She said she refused to undertake such "impossible" tests because she would not issue results she was not prepared to stand over.

The firearms residue expert was giving evidence at the trial of 34-year-old Thomas Noel Abernethy, who is charged with attempted murder at a general election polling station two years ago.

Mr Abernethy, from Glebe Mews in Dungannon, denies attempting to murder two policemen and a woman voter in a gun attack on St Mary's Primary School polling station on 7 June 2001.

Mrs Irwin said tests on clothing taken from Mr Abernethy could not be carried out because police had "incorrectly packaged them".

The trial continues.