Ombudsman's officer 'had special treatment because of dog'

Thousands of pounds were spent on accommodation and travel to allow a police ombudsman’s investigator to keep a pet dog at his side.

The officer, recruited to the North from Scotland Yard, stayed in a luxury out-of-town house and travelled home to London by car and ferry at weekends, rather than be parted from his German shepherd.

Astonished ex-colleagues said he even brought an urn containing the dog’s ashes into Ombudsman Nuala O’Loan’s central Belfast headquarters after the animal died.

A spokesman for the Ombudsman said accommodation and travel arrangements for the investigating officer – who has since quit Mrs O’Loan’s team – were in line with others seconded from UK forces.

He refused to disclose how much of the Ombudsman’s £7m a year budget was spent on him, citing the Data Protection Act.

But a shocked member of the Northern Ireland Policing Board and critic of the Ombudsman demanded full disclosure.

Democratic Unionist representative Ian Paisley Jr said: “This shows the accounting procedures in the Ombudsman’s office appear to be barking mad.

“It appears to be an elaborate use of public money.

“Nuala O’Loan, who is supposed to be the guardian of all things transparent, should take the files out and show everyone what has been going on.

“What’s good enough for everyone else should be good enough for her.”

Investigating staff in the Ombudsman’s office who probe complaints against the police are drawn from former Royal Ulster Constabulary officers and those with experience in other UK forces – the bulk coming from the Met.

In most cases seconded officers stay in rented apartments in Belfast, flying home at weekends.

But when the London-based staff member brought his dog with him he requested more spacious accommodation.

He was put up in the plush Kensington development on the edge of Hillsborough, Co Down, where property now fetches £500,000 (€745,000).

“It was like a half million pounds dog kennel,” one of those who worked alongside him claimed.

“The joke around the office was that that animal got more out of the Ombudsman’s office than the Great Train Robbers stole.”

Another former colleague said the dog-owning investigator would leave work on Fridays to begin the lengthy land and sea trip back to London, returning to his desk on Monday.

“He really loved that animal,” he said.

“After it died he even brought the ashes into work.”

This halted when another member of staff asked him to stop, it was claimed.

The Ombudsman’s Office stressed no public money was squandered in catering for his requirements.

A spokesman for Mrs O’Loan said: “Seconded officers are provided with a standard allowance for accommodation or accommodation at an equivalent cost.

“Staff are free to make travel arrangements that meet their needs, as long as the cost is in line with alternative ways of travelling.”