Northern Ireland

One of three named on Dungiven poster as officers quit PSNI six months ago

The display was hung from a fence at a bus stop at Chapel Road on Thursday
The display was hung from a fence at a bus stop at Chapel Road on Thursday

One of the three people said to be serving PSNI officers whose names appeared on a poster in a Co Derry town quit the force six months ago.

Dissident republicans are believed to be responsible for erecting the poster in Dungiven with the names and addresses of what are claimed to be three serving police officers.

The display was hung from a fence at a bus stop at Chapel Road on Thursday.

It included the names and home addresses of two women and one man.

Reference was also made to the unnamed "partner" of one of the women.

All three people are understood to be from the wider Dungiven area and from a Catholic background.

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A woman told The Irish News that she had been left terrified because people thought she was one of those named.

She said she was the only person of her name in the area where she lives, but spells it differently from how it appeared on the poster.

"The police put out a statement to say those are active serving officers, everybody thinks it is me," she said.

"I had to take the day off work because I could not face it. It's very scary, it's a complete mixed identity and I asked the police could they not put something out, a statement to say it's not me, but they won't do it. They know it's not me as well.

"I have to get it out. That has nothing to do with me. I'm terrified, absolutely terrified."

Assistant Chief Constable Chris Todd said that "a poster with details of three serving officers was placed" at the bus shelter.

While it is not known what time the poster was put up, it was removed from the fence at around 10pm.

It is not known who took it down.

The poster, which did not include any direct threats, appeared in the mainly nationalist town just weeks after the partial names and other details of 10,000 PSNI staff members were released in error in response to a Freedom of Information request.

Two other significant breaches have also been reported in recent weeks.

Sinn Féin councillor Sean McGlinchey said he met with the "families of all three individuals" on Friday.

"One definitely was never a police officer, the second resigned from the PSNI six months ago," he said.

"The third one is a serving PSNI officer and has not lived in the town for the past 15 years."

"I have to ask the question, where is this leading, where is this going?"

The Sinn Féin councillor said that while policing isn't perfect, "we have to make it work".

"I would like someone to explain to me some other option on making this system work."

Mr McGlinchey also said the incident doesn't represent "a proper picture of Dungiven" which has good "cross-community working relationships".

ACC Todd said police are "aware that a poster with details of three serving officers was placed in a bus shelter" and said those involved have been contacted.

SDLP Policing Board member Mark H Durkan said: “Anyone using information about police officers in this way must be dealt with in the strongest possible terms and I’d urge those with information to come forward to police.”