PSNI slammed following arrest of Derry woman

A decision to arrest a Derry woman on the suspicion of organised crime has been condemned.

Earlier this week a 27-year-old was arrested by officers from the PSNI's Paramilitary Crime Taskforce.

The PSNI said the woman had been arrested on suspicion of Being Concerned in the Supply of a Class B controlled drug, as part of a “proactive” investigation linked to the INLA.

The woman’s solicitor, Ciarán Shiels of Madden & Finucane condemned the operation.

Mr Shiels described the woman's arrest as a “distasteful and deplorable abuse of powers” by the PSNI.

“To arrest a woman with no criminal record, from her place of work where she is a well respected health care professional wholly unconnected to criminality of any kind, and to then denigrate her good name in the most egregious way, is to be condemned and deplored.”

He added that his client is an “experienced and well-respected dental nurse” with no criminal record and denied she is involved in any form of criminality.

Mr Shiels said: “This operation yielded no drugs, no paraphernalia, no tick-lists, no cash, no wrappings, no scales and certainly nothing indicating support for the INLA or any paramilitary gang.”

He added: “Complete assistance was offered and provided by her to police. Not a single shred of incriminatory evidence was referred to. Not a single allegation of any kind was put to her, and at no stage whatsoever, was the INLA or any terrorist or organised crime group (OCG) even mentioned.”

Mr Shiels said he suspected the PSNI arrested the woman following the release on bail of a “significantly” older half-brother late on Monday after a “particularly contentious bail application”.

The local solicitor confirmed that he will be raising the issue with the Police Ombudsman and that Foyle MP Colum Eastwood will be issuing civil proceedings on her behalf as soon as possible.

“I confirm that I have spoken directly with Mr Eastwood MP in respect of this matter,” Mr Shiels said.

When contacted for a response, a PSNI spokesperson said: “As the investigation is ongoing it would be inappropriate to comment further.”