Hain dismisses suspension calls

Mr Justice Girvan ordered an inquiry into the appointment of Bertha McDougall as Interim Victims' Commissioner.

The judge said Mrs McDougall's appointment had been motivated by an "improper political purpose".

Mr Hain said he would consider the need for an inquiry.

However, he rejected calls from the Relatives for Justice group for the immediate suspension of the head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service, Nigel Hamilton, and the Northern Ireland's Office's permanent secretary, Jonathan Phillips.

"I am not intending to suspend them at all, so let's study the judgement, learn any lessons that need to be learned and respond accordingly," he said.

"Both Jonathan Philips and Nigel Hamilton are outstanding public officials with a tremendous record of dedication."

Brenda Downes, from west Belfast, challenged the appointment of Mrs McDougall, the widow of a police reservist.

On Thursday, the judge ruled that Mr Hain had failed to take account of the fact that there was no evidential basis for concluding that Mrs McDougall - whose husband was murdered by the INLA - would command cross-community support.

Her appointment, he said, was in breach of the accepted merit norms applicable to public appointments.

Civil servants who had been advising Mr Hain in connection with the appointment also came in for criticism from the judge.

He said they "provided partial, misleading and incorrect information" as to the manner of the appointment".

The judge added that the departments had also failed to "disclose the true nature of the limited consultation which took place with one political party (the DUP)".

Mrs McDougall, 59, a former school teacher, helped set up the victims' group, Forgotten Families.