Sean McGlinchey says he is disappointed over his arrest by the PSNI
THE former Sinn Fein mayor of Limavady said his high profile arrest this week was “poor policing” on the part of the PSNI.
Sean ‘Chinky’ McGlinchey, 59, a IRA convicted murderer, was taken to Antrim police station for questioning, but later released unconditionally.
Detectives from the PSNI’s Terrorist Investigation Unit are probing a series of paramilitary attacks and threats in Dungiven over the past four years.
It is alleged the attacks were carried out by a group calling itself the ‘North West Republican Group’.
Mr McGlinchey said today following his release that he was disappointed with his “high profile arrest”.
“I feel very disappointed and angry on the basis that I have worked closely with the PSNI as a local councillor on a wide range of issues including on community safety, parading and delivering an effective local service.
“Following the interviews of last week I had made contact with the local PSNI on Monday and made it clear that I was prepared to meet them as my name had been mentioned at these interviews.
“Elements within the PSNI disregarded this completely and went down the route of an early morning high-profile arrest.
“The fact this was the path that was followed and I was released unconditionally within hours highlights this is poor policing in the extreme.”
Mr McGlinchey’s arrest was the seventh in the PSNI’s investigation.
Last week his colleague councillor Tony McCaul was arrested last week as part of the same investigation into the activities of a group calling itself the North West Republican Brigade.
He was also later released unconditionally.
Mr McGlinchey said his arrest did not make sense and was a waste or resources.
He added: “There are huge questions surrounding the usage of police resources given the arrests over the past week and all released unconditionally.
“This is a matter I will be pursuing through the Policing and Community Safety Partnership, Policing Board and Police Ombudsman.
“However, having said I have worked hard over the past number of years to develop effective policing with the community.
“I will not be deflected from this work.”
One man arrested is to be reported to the Public Prosecution Service.
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