08/04/2002
Bradley's "terrorists join police" statement draws heavy criticism
The vice chairman of the Policing Board has been heavily criticised and urged to resign following his suggestion that former terrorists may be able to serve as police officers.
Mr Bradley, a former priest and interlocutor between the IRA and British government during the early stages of the peace process, reasoned that such a move would encourage republicans and nationalists to join the PSNI.
Sinn Féin have stated that the Patten recommendations are the minimum requirement for the party taking up its seats on the Policing Board – Mr Bradley's suggestion exceeds those requirements.
However, East Belfast MLA and fellow board member Sammy Wilson demanded Mr Bradley step down from his position.
"If that's Denis Bradley's views on policing then I think that he should get out," Mr Wilson said.
A Police Federation spokesman also dismissed Mr Bradley's statement and said: "We are talking about people who have been involved in crimes including murder, often involving attacks on our members and their families.
"On any standard they would fail the test of character required if a police officer. This is a proposal we would utterly reject. Are they off their heads?"
Mr Bradley said described how he felt there "no reason" why convicted terrorists could become members of the district partnership boards but not police officers.
He pointed to the Stormont assembly, which has a convicted IRA member on the executive, and said: "I find it quite difficult to deal with a situation in which people who were prisoners can be in government, but cannot be in the police."
(GMcG)
Mr Bradley, a former priest and interlocutor between the IRA and British government during the early stages of the peace process, reasoned that such a move would encourage republicans and nationalists to join the PSNI.
Sinn Féin have stated that the Patten recommendations are the minimum requirement for the party taking up its seats on the Policing Board – Mr Bradley's suggestion exceeds those requirements.
However, East Belfast MLA and fellow board member Sammy Wilson demanded Mr Bradley step down from his position.
"If that's Denis Bradley's views on policing then I think that he should get out," Mr Wilson said.
A Police Federation spokesman also dismissed Mr Bradley's statement and said: "We are talking about people who have been involved in crimes including murder, often involving attacks on our members and their families.
"On any standard they would fail the test of character required if a police officer. This is a proposal we would utterly reject. Are they off their heads?"
Mr Bradley said described how he felt there "no reason" why convicted terrorists could become members of the district partnership boards but not police officers.
He pointed to the Stormont assembly, which has a convicted IRA member on the executive, and said: "I find it quite difficult to deal with a situation in which people who were prisoners can be in government, but cannot be in the police."
(GMcG)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A sunny but frosty start for many. However cloud increases by midday with a few showers reaching the north coast, these mostly light but spreading inland this afternoon. Chilly. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A rather cloudy evening with scattered showers. Becoming drier through the night with some good clear spells developing and a patchy frost away from coasts. Minimum temperature 0 °C.