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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| DUP anger at SDLP police claim | DUP anger at SDLP police claim |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The DUP has called for an investigation into the SDLP's claims that it ensured the Policing Board appointed Sir Hugh Orde as Chief Constable of the PSNI. | The DUP has called for an investigation into the SDLP's claims that it ensured the Policing Board appointed Sir Hugh Orde as Chief Constable of the PSNI. |
| Sir Hugh, in a memo sent to almost 10,000 police officers, has also reacted angrily to the suggestion and also to remarks by Sinn Fein last week. | Sir Hugh, in a memo sent to almost 10,000 police officers, has also reacted angrily to the suggestion and also to remarks by Sinn Fein last week. |
| He accused nationalist politicians of using policing as a political football. | He accused nationalist politicians of using policing as a political football. |
| The chief constable, who is in the US at the moment, sent the message to almost 10,000 police officers. | The chief constable, who is in the US at the moment, sent the message to almost 10,000 police officers. |
| In the memo, the chief constable accused the SDLP and Sinn Fein of using policing as "a political football" and making insulting comments about his organisation and staff. | In the memo, the chief constable accused the SDLP and Sinn Fein of using policing as "a political football" and making insulting comments about his organisation and staff. |
| 'Solely on merit' | |
| Sir Hugh was angered by remarks by Gerry Adams last week, when he said republicans "would put manners on the police". | Sir Hugh was angered by remarks by Gerry Adams last week, when he said republicans "would put manners on the police". |
| He was also annoyed by a statement by Mark Durkan in a newspaper advert in which the SDLP leader claimed his party had ensured that the Policing Board appointed Sir Hugh as chief constable of the PSNI - to keep out what he called "the old RUC order." | He was also annoyed by a statement by Mark Durkan in a newspaper advert in which the SDLP leader claimed his party had ensured that the Policing Board appointed Sir Hugh as chief constable of the PSNI - to keep out what he called "the old RUC order." |
| They are entitled, by dint of their membership of the Policing Board, to sit on the recruitment panel and yet this advert implies that they openly rigged that recruitment process Ian Paisley Junior | They are entitled, by dint of their membership of the Policing Board, to sit on the recruitment panel and yet this advert implies that they openly rigged that recruitment process Ian Paisley Junior |
| A spokesman for the Policing Board said it undertook a "thorough, professional and legislatively compliant appointment process". | |
| This had been based "solely on merit and included independent assessments", he said. | |
| "The chairman of the board has written to the leader of the SDLP in relation to comments published in an advert in the Irish News on Friday 26 January 2007. "The matter will be raised at the Policing Board meeting next week," said the spokesman. | |
| Policing Board member Ian Paisley Junior has called for an investigation into the SDLP's claim. | Policing Board member Ian Paisley Junior has called for an investigation into the SDLP's claim. |
| "This is one of the most senior appointments in Northern Ireland," he said. | "This is one of the most senior appointments in Northern Ireland," he said. |
| "They are entitled, by dint of their membership of the Policing Board, to sit on the recruitment panel and yet this advert implies that they openly rigged that recruitment process." | "They are entitled, by dint of their membership of the Policing Board, to sit on the recruitment panel and yet this advert implies that they openly rigged that recruitment process." |
| 'Sensitive side' | |
| Ulster Unionist board member Fred Cobain called on Mark Durkan to apologise for his remarks. | Ulster Unionist board member Fred Cobain called on Mark Durkan to apologise for his remarks. |
| The SDLP's Alex Attwood rejected the criticism and said his party had not excluded any RUC officer from the process, but had resisted government pressure to exclude external candidates. | The SDLP's Alex Attwood rejected the criticism and said his party had not excluded any RUC officer from the process, but had resisted government pressure to exclude external candidates. |
| Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams said it was "quite ridiculous" that Sir Hugh's memo was referred to as "confidential". | Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams said it was "quite ridiculous" that Sir Hugh's memo was referred to as "confidential". |
| "This is the PSNI showing its sensitive side. The fact is, the O'Loan report said that a serial killer was being paid taxpayers' money." | "This is the PSNI showing its sensitive side. The fact is, the O'Loan report said that a serial killer was being paid taxpayers' money." |
| Meanwhile, Prime Minister Tony Blair has told the Commons that Special Branch officers criticised in the report "were a minority within the police force". | Meanwhile, Prime Minister Tony Blair has told the Commons that Special Branch officers criticised in the report "were a minority within the police force". |
| Mr Blair said collusion was wrong and was to be deeply regretted. | Mr Blair said collusion was wrong and was to be deeply regretted. |
| "I don't think that should take away from the work that the majority of officers, both in the police and in the service, the majority of the work that they did was of enormous benefit to the local community." | "I don't think that should take away from the work that the majority of officers, both in the police and in the service, the majority of the work that they did was of enormous benefit to the local community." |