A high profile Catholic police officer, one of the founders of the force's GAA team, has been suspended after revenue and customs officials launched an investigation.
Superintendent Gerry Murray was suspended last month after HMRC launched an investigation.
It is believed officials visited two properties belonging to him in Belfast as part of the probe.
Mr Murray (60) is one of the PSNI’s most prominent Catholic officers and was a founding member of its GAA team.
Before joining the RUC more than four decades ago he also played Gaelic football for Ardoyne.
In the past he has also worked for the PSNI’s close protection unit and has been seen at the side of members of the British royal family, including Queen Elizabeth, during recent visits to the north.
Mr Murray, who is head of road safety, made headlines five years ago when the PSNI reached an out of court settlement with him after allegations of religious and age discrimination.
The senior officer took the case after he failed to get a job within the Professional Standards Department in August 2008.
It is believed Mr Murray owns several properties and is said to take a keen interest in art, which he collects.
In recent weeks he appeared in a television documentary which brought together former alter boys at Holy Cross Church in Ardoyne after 50 years.
He and several other PSNI officers took part in last year’s St Patrick’s Day parade in New York along with Irish ambassador to the US Anne Henderson and former SDLP leader Alasdair McDonnell.
It was the first time the PSNI took part in the annual parade.
A spokesman for the PSNI said: "Police can confirm an officer was suspended earlier this month as part of an investigation led by HMRC."
A spokesman for HMRC said: "We don’t comment on identifiable tax payers."
