A ‘New IRA; car bomb exploded in Derry’s Bishop Street last Saturday night outside the courthouse
The oversight body had not met in a fully constituted form for almost two years following the collapse of Stormont by Sinn Fein’s deputy first minister Martin McGuinness.
The body consists of 19 members, including 10 political representatives,
No politicians had been appointed since the last Assembly election in March 2017.
British Secretary of State Karen Bradley brought forward legislation last autumn to enable the appointment of political representatives last year.
Last November Ms Bradley confirmed the political appointments of Keith Buchanan, Joanne Bunting, Foyle MLA Gary Middleton and Mervyn Storey from the DUP; Gerry Kelly, Linda Dillon and Philip McGuigan for Sinn Fein; John Blair of the Alliance Party; Dolores Kelly for the SDLP, and Alan Chambers for the UUP.
Yesterday members unanimously recorded thanks to the police for their work in responding to the bomb attack on the courthouse in Derry and the subsequent hoax devices.
They also formally appointed Aine Connolly as chair and Debbie Watters as vice chair.
DUP members of the board welcomed the meeting as a “positive step forward”.
Mr Storey said: “It should have happened immediately after the 2017 Assembly election, but Sinn Fein’s boycott of the Assembly and Executive prevented the appointment of political members.
“The Policing Board has a key role in holding the Police Service of Northern Ireland to account.
“But it is equally important that the work of our schools and hospitals is scrutinised.”
Mr Middleton added: “There is an obvious threat posed by the activities of dissident republican terrorists.
“It is important the police have the capacity and resources to deal with that.”
The next public meeting of the Policing Board is due to be held on February 7 at its Belfast HQ.
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