Sinn Féin did not threaten to withdraw support for policing – Kelly

The row has led some unionist politicians to call for the resignation of Chief Constable Simon Byrne.

Sinn Fein MLA Gerry Kelly said he wanted to ‘set the record straight’ (Liam McBurney/PA)

A Sinn Féin MLA has said that at no point did he suggest his party would withdraw support for the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) during discussions with senior officers about the policing of a Troubles memorial event in 2021.

Policing Board representative Gerry Kelly said he wanted to “set the record straight” following the latest controversy to hit Northern Ireland’s police force after a High Court judge ruled that a decision to discipline two junior officers was unlawful.