Legal challenge against Northern Ireland’s Police Ombudsman to be heard by another judge

A judge involved in a high-profile legal challenge against Northern Ireland’s Police Ombudsman has ruled that the case should be heard by another judge, despite finding that a legal test for him to formally withdraw had not been met.

A judge involved in a high-profile legal challenge against Northern Ireland’s Police Ombudsman has ruled that the case should be heard by another judge, despite finding that a legal test for him to formally withdraw had not been met.

Mr Justice McCloskey delivered a damning judgement against Ombudsman Dr Michael Maguire last month, ruling that he had exceeded his statutory powers by declaring officers guilty of colluding in the Ulster Volunteer Force massacre at Loughinisland, Co Down in 1994.