A former senior officer with the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) is pursuing legal counsel in response to comments attributed to her during a session of the Investigatory Powers Tribunal.
Barbara Gray, the former assistant chief constable of the PSNI, expressed that she was “deeply angered and offended” by remarks made by a former detective who led a leak investigation in Northern Ireland.
The Investigatory Powers Tribunal is examining allegations that the PSNI, along with other police forces, may have unlawfully surveilled journalists Barry McCaffrey and Trevor Birney after they produced a documentary revealing police failures to investigate the murders of innocent Catholics by a paramilitary organization.
In an email to Durham Constabulary, former detective Darren Ellis asserted that Gray, a senior PSNI officer, had advised him to “exercise caution” when interacting with solicitors, barristers, and judiciary members due to perceived tensions within the legal system. He claimed that Gray expressed concerns regarding what she described as “perverse decision-making” within the criminal justice system, suggesting a bias against those from a Roman Catholic background.
In a statement seen by Computer Weekly, Gray announced her intention to seek legal advice regarding Ellis’s remarks. “I am aware of comments attributed to me yesterday following evidence provided by Mr. Darren Ellis to the Investigatory Powers Tribunal in London,” she stated. “I am profoundly angered and offended by these comments. To clarify, I have the highest regard for the judiciary and the broader legal profession in Northern Ireland, which I have maintained throughout my 35-year career.” She emphasized her commitment to the principles of equality, integrity, and impartiality.
Gray further asserted that, contrary to Ellis’s testimony on October 2, 2024, she had directly challenged him regarding written statements he made that criticized Northern Ireland’s Lord Chief Justice, deeming his comments wholly unacceptable and inappropriate.
Darren Ellis was appointed by the PSNI and Durham Police in 2018 to lead an investigation into leaked documents related to a documentary by Birney and McCaffrey, which highlighted police collusion in the 1994 Loughinisland murders. The tribunal is currently investigating claims that the PSNI and other police forces illegally surveilled the journalists during this inquiry.