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| Rape investigation 'unacceptable' | Rape investigation 'unacceptable' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A senior judge has said the standard of a police investigation into a rape allegation was "unacceptable". | A senior judge has said the standard of a police investigation into a rape allegation was "unacceptable". |
| On Monday, a jury at Londonderry Crown Court found Gary Paul Hamilton, of Rossnagalliagh Park, not guilty of raping a woman in 2007. | On Monday, a jury at Londonderry Crown Court found Gary Paul Hamilton, of Rossnagalliagh Park, not guilty of raping a woman in 2007. |
| Judge Desmond Marrinan said that based on the evidence presented, the jury had reached the proper verdict. | Judge Desmond Marrinan said that based on the evidence presented, the jury had reached the proper verdict. |
| But he criticised the fact that a junior officer lacking the proper experience led the investigation. | But he criticised the fact that a junior officer lacking the proper experience led the investigation. |
| Judge Marrinan said he was not making any criticism of the junior officer personally or professionally, but that she was too inexperienced to handle such a serious criminal case. | |
| The judge said the officer was assigned the case simply because she was on duty at the time of the allegation in January last year. | |
| "Serious criminal allegations should only be investigated by experienced officers and in this case it was unacceptable to the court to have a rape allegation investigated by a junior officer halfway though her training," he said. | "Serious criminal allegations should only be investigated by experienced officers and in this case it was unacceptable to the court to have a rape allegation investigated by a junior officer halfway though her training," he said. |
| In a statement, the police said a full investigation into the allegation had been carried out and a file submitted to the Public Prosecution Service. | In a statement, the police said a full investigation into the allegation had been carried out and a file submitted to the Public Prosecution Service. |
| "We will now examine the comments of the court and consider any appropriate action," it added. | "We will now examine the comments of the court and consider any appropriate action," it added. |