A former Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) officer, currently facing prosecution for allegedly sharing images taken at the scenes of sudden deaths, has been reported to be under a “real and imminent” threat, according to information presented in court on Monday.
The ex-policeman is accused of abusing trust by accessing and obtaining photographs or videos from various incidents. He is facing a total of 16 charges of misconduct in public office. These charges include allegations of disclosing sensitive information and offences during investigations related to two children.
One of the allegations involves obtaining an image of a PSNI record concerning Sinn Féin MLA Gerry Kelly. A serving female officer, who is currently suspended from duty, has also been charged in connection with the same case. She faces accusations of misconduct related to another death, including the theft of prescribed medication and supplying Class B drugs following a cannabis seizure.
Both defendants, whose addresses were noted as care of Woodbourne PSNI Station in Belfast, attended the city’s magistrates court on Monday for the initial stage of the criminal proceedings. Due to potential threats to their lives, interim anonymity orders were imposed.
Mark Farrell, counsel for the policewoman, informed the court that she had received a threat management message over the weekend, indicating that her life was in immediate danger. The former officer’s lawyer also confirmed four similar warnings about threats to his life.
The alleged offences occurred over five years between July 2012 and September 2017. Charges were brought following a Police Ombudsman investigation, known as Operation Warwick, which examined incidents including the sharing of imagery taken at the scenes of sudden deaths.
The former PSNI officer understood to have been dismissed from the force, is also accused of aiding and abetting theft, misconduct in public office, supplying a Class B drug, and attempting to supply a Class C drug.
The case has been adjourned to the next month for further proceedings, allowing the defendants’ lawyers to examine the extensive prosecution evidence before potential trial proceedings.
More news from Belfast
