Report clears Orde after claims from ousted Special Branch chief

OUSTED Special Branch Commander Bill Lowry has criticised a report which cleared Northern Ireland Chief Constable Hugh Orde of buckling under MI5 pressure to force him out.

A major investigation by Police Ombudsman Nuala O’Loan into allegations by Mr Lowry that he quit over a leaks row to appease republicans found no evidence to back his claims.

But Mr Lowry, who headed the raids against an IRA spy ring at Stormont, insisted her report did not uncover the full truth.