Policing board chief quits role
The chief executive of the Northern Ireland Policing Board has resigned.
Adrian Donaldson had been off work on health grounds since December last year and had been subject to an external review of his work amid claims he was under-performing in the role.
A board spokeswoman confirmed Mr Donaldson, a former chief executive of Castlereagh Borough Council, had tendered his resignation.
A management consultant was hired by senior board figures last summer to assess what Mr Donaldson had accomplished.
His departure is the latest blow to the PSNI’s oversight body during what has been a rocky period for the watchdog.
Three months after Mr Donaldson’s review was triggered a separate independent report on the overall work of the board found it slow to take decisions, bureaucratic and not providing value for its £8.8 million annual budget.
Prior to that, board chairman Barry Gilligan was forced to stand down temporarily after police launched an investigation into his role in a Belfast land deal.
Mr Gilligan, a wealthy property developer from south Belfast, has insisted he acted correctly at all times.
Mr Donaldson joined the board in 2008.
During his time at Castlereagh Council has was credited with the successful organisation of the huge public funeral for footballing legend George Best at Stormont in 2005.
