RUC forensic fraud

BY LAURA FRIEL

A senior scientific officer has claimed that RUC/PSNI officers put pressure on forensic experts to cover up their mistakes. The revelation was made during a two-week court case in Draperstown.

Forensic scientist Ann Irwin told the court that in the last seven years, some RUC/PSNI officers had asked her to cover up their mistakes in the handling of cases involving tests for firearms residue on clothing and other materials taken from suspects.

The case involved the wounding of two RUC/PSNI officers and a woman at St Mary's Primary School in Draperstown in June 2001. But the case collapsed following the forensic scientist's revelation. Presiding Judge Nicholson told the defendant that had he been convicted, he would have been imprisoned for 30 years.

The scientist said that the RUC/PSNI had asked her to collude in covering up the fact that materials for forensic examination had already been open to contamination by the RUC/PSNI's failure to implement the proper procedure for handling the 'evidence'.

Presumably, Ann Irwin never complied with any of these requests but there is little doubt that other scientists probably received similar entreaties. The failure of Irwin to come forward earlier and of other forensic scientists to report this practice raises serious questions about the validity of forensic evidence used in many convictions.

In court, Judge Nicholson described himself as 'disturbed' by the forensic scientist's testimony and said he intended to take the matter up with the Lord Chief Justice "because of its implications".

A spokesperson from the Police Ombudsman's Office said a formal complaint in relation to Ann Irwin's allegation had not been received but investigators would be in contact with the Forensic Agency. He said the Ombudsman would be reviewing the situation in the light of Judge Nicholson's comments.

Sinn Féin said it was 'remarkable' that the NIO Secretary of State Paul Murphy had not yet commented on allegations that the RUC/PSNI attempted to interfere with evidence in criminal cases.

"In any other judicial system a revelation that senior members of the police force have interfered in the work of the Forensic Science Agency would spark outrage," said Sinn Féin vice president Pat Doherty.

"It is time for those who defend this force to tell us straight what they think of this scandal. It is time for the Secretary of State to speak on this matter."

Meanwhile, former RUC officers who took redundancy rather than transfer to the PSNI, are being sought by MI5, who are intending to recruit them as spies.

The move comes as the British government is 'considering' handing counter-insurgency operations in the north of Ireland, which in the past has included spies, agents, assassins and saboteurs, to MI5.

Of course, through their direct control of covert British Army units like the FRU and RUC/PSNI Special Branch, MI5 has always controlled the operation of the 'dirty war' in Ireland. Under MI5's Walker recommendations, the Special Branch was given complete primacy within the RUC and provided a conduit through which British Intelligence could control and manipulate policing in the North.

As the British government comes under increasing pressure to realise Patten's promise of a new beginning to policing and the prospect of devolved power over policing in the North, Special Branch can no longer be regarded as a secure conduit for the British.

According to recent media reports, MI5 will take direct control of agents and intelligence in the North. It will also be given the role of spying in the 26 Counties. Traditionally, MI6 has the role of spying and sabotage in foreign states. But recently MI5 has controlled operations, not only in the South but also in Europe and America.

MI5 recently impersonated Iraqi intelligence agents to snare a three-member Irish gang attempting to buy arms in Eastern Europe. It was MI5 who worked with the FBI in running the agent Dave Rupert.

The Special Branch has already been reduced from 850 officers to 400 and the status of the head of Special Branch downgraded to assistant chief constable. In the past, fluidity of operatives working in units like the FRU and Special Branch ensured continuity of MI5's control. The shift of responsibility away from Special Branch directly to MI5 allows the British government to preside over the appearance of change while avoiding local accountability.