NI Ombudsman clears Orde of allegations

Hugh Orde Cleared by Ombudsman

The police Ombudsman has cleared chief constable Hugh Orde of forcing a former special branch commander in Belfast to resign last year, under political pressure.

Bill Lowry resigned weeks after heading the operation against an alleged IRA spy ring inside British government offices at Stormont.

Mr Orde had categorically denied coming under any pressure from the British security service MI5 to remove Mr Lowry from his post.

The policing board called in the Ombudsman after receiving a complaint from Mr Lowry.

Mr Lowry insisted that Nuala O'Loan's report did not uncover the full truth and that he was disappointed but not surprised by the outcome.

'The conclusion they came to does not surprise me because this chief constable must be seen to be whiter than white with no black marks', he added.

He claimed he had been 'shafted' by the police service, from which he was originally due to retire at the start of February this year.

He said he had not resigned from the PSNI over the issue but had retired last November and he was sorry he had not been allowed to leave with dignity.