Ombudsman denies illegally leaking sensitive information

The Police Ombudsman in the North has denied allegations that her office has broken the law by leaking sensitive information to the media.

A group of retired police officers has claimed Nuala O'Loan's office leaked information to the press before the publication of January's report into collusion between senior officers and loyalist paramilitaries.

The group, which has already rejected the findings of the report, claims the Ombudsman leaked information like the names of police officers under investigation.

It says this breached legal restrictions on the disclosure of information and the PSNI has now launched a preliminary inquiry.

The Ombudsman, however, has rejected any suggestion that her staff broke the law.