A Police Ombudsman investigation into allegations police officers fabricated a statement about an abduction in Belfast in the early 1990s, was withdrawn after the complainant accepted that the statement was factually accurate.
The complainant (Man A) had queried a decision by the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) that no one should be prosecuted for their part in his abduction and false imprisonment.
The evidence considered by the PPS in reaching its decision had included a signed statement purporting to be from the complainant. Man A said he had never seen nor been asked to sign such a document.
The man’s complaint was subsequently referred by the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) to the Police Ombudsman’s Office for independent investigation.
When interviewed by Police Ombudsman investigators, Man A said that while he could recall a meeting with two police officers, during which notes had been recorded, he had never been asked to read or sign a statement.
Police Ombudsman investigators identified the officers who had met Man A, one of whom had since retired. The other officer recalled that a statement had been written and signed by Man A.
A copy of the statement was obtained and shown to Man A. He said it was the first time he had ever seen it, and stated that he would have asked for more contextual information to have been included.
He said he remained concerned by the statement, suggesting that two of the signatures on the document did not resemble his own writing.
Man A declined to provide other examples of his handwriting, and informed the investigators that he no longer wished to pursue his complaint on the basis that the statement was accurate in its description of his abduction.
The matter was then formally closed by the Police Ombudsman’s Office.