Probe into police Semtex claims
An investigation is to be launched into allegations police asked a west Belfast teenager to join a dissident republican group and plant explosives on his neighbours.
Police Ombudsman Al Hutchinson confirmed his Office will investigate claims reported in a newspaper on Tuesday that officers asked the 19-year-old to commit criminal offences in return for having shoplifting charges dropped.
The newspaper reported the young man’s claims that, while under arrest for shoplifting, police asked him to monitor a number of people, join a dissident group and report to them on its activities, plant a gun in a neighbour’s car and to leave Semtex explosives in a garden shed.
The teenager also told Irish News police threatened to lay false criminal charges against him if he refused.
Al Hutchinson said the allegations as reported were extremely serious.
“The allegations made by this young man are that at several levels police attempted to pervert the course of justice,” he said.
“The police actions must be investigated fully.
“If people are to have confidence in the criminal justice system they must be assured that the police are not above the law.”
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