EX-POLICEMAN DENIES SHARING DEATH IMAGES

A former police officer has denied a raft of charges relating to alleged misconduct in a public office.

The defendant, whose personal details are the subject of an anonymity order, was referred to as XX.

He appeared in the dock of Belfast Crown Court on Tuesday and denied misconduct in a public office.

It was alleged, that as a police officer without reasonable excuse or justification, he possessed and shared images relating to the death of a male.

The offence - that he wilfully neglected to perform his duties and wilfully misconducted himself to such a degree as to amount to an abuse of the trust of the public - is alleged to have happened between 23 July, 2012 and 20 January, 2017.

He was then charged with a further 14 offences of a similar nature - namely misconduct in a public office - and he again replied "not guilty".

XX was also charged with aiding and abetting misconduct in a public office which related to a female police officer referred to in court as XY.

XY is charged that on dates between 15 August and 18 August, 2014, she wilfully neglected to perform her duty and wilfully misconducted herself to such a degree as to amount to abuse of the trust of the public in her duties as a police officer namely an investigation concerning the seizure of cannabis in Rathfriland.

XX denied this charge and a second offence of a similar nature, namely aiding and abetting misconduct in a public office.

XX was then charged with aiding and abetting theft, namely that between 15 August and 18 August, 2014, XY allegedly stole cannabis belonging to another and that he aided and abetted the commission of the offence.

When charged with this, XX replied "not guilty".

He also denied a second charge of aiding and abetting theft.

XX also denied supplying cannabis on dates between 15 August and 18 August, 2014.

He also denied attempting to supply the Class C drug Tramadol on dates between 19 April and 28 August, 2014.

The female officer XY appeared in court last month when she was arraigned on a total of seven charges.

She entered "not guilty" pleas to charges including misconduct in a public office, the theft of cannabis and supplying cannabis.

Judge Patricia Smyth scheduled a hearing regarding the anonymity order to take place on 31 May, when a trial date will also be set.

2024-04-23T13:17:46Z dg43tfdfdgfd