SDLP under intense fire over claims on PSNI appointment

The SDLP is coming under intense criticism over its claim that it influenced the appointment of the PSNI chief constable.

The party has claimed that the British Government tried to prevent outside candidates from being considered, but the SDLP successfully ensured that no member of the RUC old guard got the job.

Last night, Alan McQuillan of the Assets Recovery Agency confirmed that he intended to sue the party as a result of the claim, which was made after the recent Police Ombudsman's report on collusion.

Mr McQuillan was one of the candidates considered for the chief constable's position.

The Irish News in Belfast has also apologised to him for any unintentional distress it caused by publishing the advertisement in which the SDLP made the contentious claim.

The party, however, has insisted that it did not suggest in any way or form that Mr McQuillan was involved in collusion.

The deputy chairman of the North's Policing Board, meanwhile, has said he wants to hear what evidence the SDLP has to back up its claim that the British Government interfered in the appointments process.

Policing Board chairman Desmond Rea insisted after a meeting yesterday that the appointment of senior officers within the Board and the PSNI was carried out in adherence with the highest standards of employment practice, with appointments based solely on merit.

Asked about the matter today, the DUP's Ian Paisley Jnr said Mark Durkan's leadership of the SDLP had been damaged by the controversy and called on him to admit that was wrong.