Police evidence handling criticised

Nuala O'Loan was called into investigate allegations

The Police Ombudsman has criticised the police handling of critical forensic evidence following the collapse of a terrorist trial last year.

Nuala O'Loan was called in to investigate fears that the police tried to pressurise forensic scientists into covering up mistakes.

Mrs O'Loan said she found no evidence to support those allegations, but highlighted what she believed to be "poor crime scene management".

During the 2001 election, two police officers and a 21-year-old woman were injured in a gun attack at a polling station in Draperstown in County Londonderry.

Last September, one man went on trial for attempted murder but the case collapsed and he was cleared.

In court, a forensic science officer claimed that police had put pressure on her to compromise her work.

There should have been a professional response to maximise forensic opportunities to catch and convict the perpetrators - this, unfortunately, did not happen Police Ombudsman

The Police Ombudsman was called in and on Wednesday Nuala O'Loan's report dismissed those allegations.

However, her report is critical when it comes to the police handling of the crime scene and forensic evidence.

The senior investigating officer left the scene after only 30 minutes, evidence was left exposed to the elements overnight, said the report.

A video tape was made too late and the suspect's clothes were put into paper bags which may have been contaminated, it said.

However, the Ombudsman's report concluded that, because police training and procedures at the time were inadequate, none of the officers concerned was in breach of conduct.

'Investigate concerns'

The report noted that crime scene management procedures had since been improved.

"There should have been a professional response to maximise forensic opportunities to catch and convict the perpetrators. This, unfortunately, did not happen," said the report.

"Evidence was left exposed to the elements overnight and to the possibility of loss of forensic value."

Responding to the report, a police spokesman said: "The PSNI asked the Ombudsman to investigate concerns resulting from comments made by the forensic scientist.

"The Police Service had already carried out its own review of the case and acknowledged that there were forensic failings at the scene."

He added: "The PSNI welcomes the Ombudsman's comments that the police did not act improperly and the further comments about the Forensic Scientist's statements.

"Subsequent to the internal examination of this case police have already introduced a number of policies and procedures and will now consider the supplementary comments made by the Ombudsman.'