PSNI ‘did not have capacity’ to manage risk posed by catfish killer Alexander McCartney

Alexander McCartney was jailed last year for a litany of online sex crimes. Pciture: PSNI/PA

Police cybercrime units in Northern Ireland did not have the capacity or capability to effectively manage the risk posed by a prolific online predator who drove one of his victims to take her own life, a Police Ombudsman investigation has found.

Ombudsman chief executive Hugh Hume said it was clear that Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) teams tasked with detecting and investigating online child sexual abuse by catfish abuser Alexander McCartney were under-resourced and under pressure.