Northern Ireland

Police officer disciplined for investigative failures into Co Armagh road crash

A police officer has been disciplined for investigative failures into a Co Armagh road crash
A police officer has been disciplined for investigative failures into a Co Armagh road crash A police officer has been disciplined for investigative failures into a Co Armagh road crash

A POLICE officer has been disciplined over investigative failures into a Co Armagh road accident which left a motorcyclist in hospital for a month.

The collision, which involved a motorcycle and a car, took place in July 2016. The investigation was only referred to the Police Ombudsman by the PSNI the following March.

The ombudsman recommended disciplinary action against the officer after identifying failings in his handling of the case.

These included not taking a statement from the motorcyclist until three months after the collision, failing to request consent for access to medical records in a timely manner and failing to apply properly for medical records.

Investigators also found that the officer was responsible for incorrectly completing a form which stated the rider had been breathalysed at the scene.

It was also found that the officer failed to criminally interview the driver of the car involved despite being directed to do so by his supervising officer.