Thousands of ‘traumatised’ officers may sue RUC

Up to 3,500 police officers in Northern Ireland could be involved in a multi-million pound legal action seeking compensation for post traumatic stress disorder, it was claimed tonight.

With the first recruits to the new policing service about to be chosen, hundreds of officers who have quit the Royal Ulster Constabulary are among those who will be lodging claims against Chief Constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan.

They are claiming psychological damage because of the campaign of IRA and loyalist violence.

No date has been fixed for the start of the High Court action but representatives of the force’s rank and file claimed up to 3,500 officers could be involved.

David McClurg, secretary of the Police Federation, which is spearheading the court action, said that much of the suffering of officers need never have happened.

‘‘This is an illness that has been known for many many years. Had appropriate action been taken in respect of counselling and debriefing, then perhaps some of the medical consequences could have been avoided,’’ he said.

The Federation’s legal advisers have already forwarded papers of more than 600 cases to the Chief Constable’s legal department and they believe that the total compensation bill could top £10 million.

A judge is expected to be appointed soon but it could be a number of years before the first of the cases is considered by the court.

Mr McClurg predicted a long battle to achieve compensation for officers who witnessed some of the most harrowing incidents of 30 years of terrorism.

The case began when the Federation circulated 22,000 letters with detailed questionnaires to former and serving officers.

Among those to come forward were officers who had direct experience of terrorist attacks and others who had to deal with the aftermath of some of the most bloody atrocities of the past three decades.

A significant proportion of those claiming compensation were medically discharged as a result of the trauma they suffered.

As well as the Federation’s group action, a number of other officers are currently pursuing their own independent actions through the courts.

The Federation’s lawyers are arguing that officers exposed to violence were not given adequate support from the force over the years.

Mr McClurg said the force had in the intervening years introduced measures to assist officers suffering from post traumatic stress, but it was too little too late.

‘‘In the mid 1980s an occupational health unit was established. Services to this unit have increased over the years,’’ he added.