Selection of police authority chief criticised

Concerns mounted yesterday over the Government process to appoint the chairperson of the new independent Policing Authority.

Dermot Walsh, a leading legal expert, said it was clear the process did not involve “transparent and competitive interview” by an independent body and said it seemed “heavily oriented towards secrecy and government control”.

The Irish Council for Civil Liberties called for “greater clarity” on the appointment procedure and said the authority “must not only be, but be seen to be, entirely independent”.