Orde to take contract extension

Hugh Orde will stay on as Northern Chief Constable for up to three more years, it emerged last night.

He is set to accept a contract extension offered by the authority monitoring his performance.

However, the married police chief, revealed last month to have fathered a secret love child, is understood to be ready to go before the new period expires.

In a major vote of confidence following the tabloid publicity around his private life, the Northern Policing Board confirmed tonight it agreed to give Mr Orde up to three years more on his original fixed term contract.

“There was absolutely no dissent on this. He’s a star performer,” disclosed one Board member.

Mr Orde, 48, a former senior Scotland Yard officer, beat off competition from two Assistant Chief Constables in Belfast to take command of the Police Service of Northern Ireland in September 2002.

Since his appointment on a five-year deal he has overseen major reforms to the Protestant-dominated force.

His time in the £130,000 (€191,500) a year job has also involved some of Belfast’s most ferocious rioting, the £26.5m (€39m) raid on the city’s Northern Bank headquarters.

He also held a series of meetings with Sinn Féin leaders Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness in advance of republicans’ historic decision in January to support the PSNI.

However, his image was tested by revelations of the affair with an undercover detective in the Metropolitan Police.

Mr Hugh later apologised to RUC widows representatives over claims he snubbed a memorial service for officers killed in the line of duty to go running with his mistress.

At the time Policing Board Chairman Desmond Rea backed the Chief Constable, and tonight that support was strengthened by the new offer, which is likely to be approved by Secretary of State Peter Hain.

He said: “Since his appointment in 2002, Sir Hugh Orde has provided strong strategic leadership for the Police Service of Northern Ireland and has served with distinction.”

Annual performance reviews over the last three years led Sir Desmond and his vice chairman Barry Gilligan to discuss a possible extension.

“Following this meeting the Vice-Chairman and I brought a recommendation to the Board,” he added.

“The Board accepted the recommendation and agreed to offer the Chief Constable an extension of his contract of up to three years.

“As the contract extension is subject to approval by the Secretary of State, the Board’s decision will now be taken forward with the Northern Ireland Office.”

A spokeswoman for Mr Orde confirmed that he looked set to accept the offer.

She said: “It’s likely that he will stay on, but the length of time has yet to be determined.”

Meanwhile, it emerged tonight that Sinn Féin is ready to join the Policing Board immediately after the North’s power-sharing administration is restored on May 8 under the devolution deal agreed by Mr Adams and Democratic Unionist leader Ian Paisley.

Ulster Television reported the republican party’s leadership will call a meeting as soon as possible to ratify the move.