A senior official at the Police Ombudsman’s office has removed himself from a case involving former PSNI officers due to a “perceived conflict of interest”.
A spokeswoman for the ombudsman’s office confirmed that newly appointed chief executive Hugh Hume will have no involvement in an investigation linked to expenditure.
The Police Ombudsman investigation was launched after a complaint was lodged by former PSNI assistant chief constable Duncan McCausland and Mark Gilmore, ex-West Yorkshire chief constable.
The Police Ombudsman has previously said “a decision has been made to commence a criminal investigation in respect of complaints made about a number of former officers, following the disclosure of alleged police expenditure on ‘inducements’ as part of matters brought before an Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT).”
The London-based IPT looks at complaints from people who believe they have been the victims of unlawful covert interference.
Details emerged during an IPT case taken by Mr McCausland and Mr Gilmore.
Both men alleged they were the focus of illegal covert surveillance during a police investigation into corruption and bribery.
In 2014 Mr McCausland was arrested and questioned while Mr Gilmore was suspended from his job, which he never returned to.
Seven other people, including a police officer, were also detained as part of Operation Henley.
No charges were ever brought.
When Mr McCausland and Mr Gilmore took their case to the IPT in 2022 the PSNI dropped its defence and is believed to have paid compensation.
Both men later made a complaint to the ombudsman.
In a statement the Police Ombudsman’s office confirmed Mr Hume has removed himself from the current probe.
“Any actual, perceived or potential conflict of interests identified, or arising, in any Police Ombudsman investigation are subject to scrutiny in line with our Conflict of Interest policy to ensure that the independence and impartiality which are fundamental to our investigations are maintained,” a spokeswoman said.
“Although the Chief Executive is not responsible for the day-to-day operational management of any investigation, in this instance, recognising that there may be a perceived conflict of interest, he has decided to remove himself from any involvement in this case.”
Mr Hume, who retired from the PSNI in 2017, recently worked with the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) and had previously served with its inspectorate.
It is understood is a former Head of Intelligence at the PSNI’s C3 unit.
In 2018 he was investigated by the Police Ombudsman along with other senior officers, including former Deputy Chief Constable Drew Harris, who is now the Garda Commissioner, following complaints by Mr McCausland and Mr Gilmore over the handling of Operation Henley. Both men were later cleared.
