PSNI denies any effort to delay courts or protect members of police

The North’s deputy chief constable has rejected claims officers have deliberately delayed the disclosure of top secret material for legacy inquests to protect former colleagues.

Drew Harris acknowledged there was a “fear” among retired officers that inquests were a way of putting ex soldiers and police on trial, but he refuted allegations the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) had exploited the cumbersome redaction process to slow legal proceedings.