Nuala O'Loan
Encyclopedia
Nuala Patricia O'Loan, Baroness O'Loan, DBE
(born 20 December 1951) is a noted public figure
in Northern Ireland
. She was the first Police Ombudsman in between 1999 and 2007. In July 2009, it was announced that she was to be appointed to the House of Lords
. Consequently, she was raised to the peerage as Baroness O'Loan, of Kirkinriola in the County of Antrim on 11 September 2009. In December 2010, National University of Ireland, Maynooth
appointed her as Chairman of its Governing Authority.
, England, one of eight siblings. She studied law at King's College London
, graduating in 1973, and became a law lecturer
in Northern Ireland. In 1977 she survived an IRA bombing at Ulster Polytechnic, Jordanstown
, while pregnant; she lost the baby as a result.
She is married to Social Democratic and Labour Party
(SDLP) North Antrim
MLA, Declan O'Loan
; they have five sons. One of her sons, Damian, was badly beaten up in the Oldpark section of North Belfast. The attack, in June 2006, required him to receive hospital treatment. The motive for the attack has not yet been established. She was also a voluntary marriage counsellor, working particularly to prepare young people from different religions who are getting married.
and was a law lecturer at the Ulster Polytechnic and University of Ulster
from 1974 to 1992. She was then a Senior Lecturer
holding the Jean Monnet Chair in European Law
at the University of Ulster from 1992 until her appointment as Ombudsman
.
She has also been:
A member of the Green Economy Working Group
Chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission's Human Rights Enquiry
("lay visitor") to police
stations, which meant she could speak to people being detained, at any time of the day or night.
and the office's existence and practice has been the subject of continued controversy since.
In August 2001, she was tasked with looking into police handling of the Omagh bombing
in 1998. This terrorist attack left twenty-nine people (plus two unborn children) dead. Her report, published in December 2001, found that the Royal Ulster Constabulary
had prior knowledge of some form of attack planned for that area and it questioned the leadership of Northern Ireland's then Chief Constable
, Sir Ronnie Flanagan
.
Responding to the report, Flanagan said he considered the report to represent neither a "fair, thorough or rigorous investigation". He said he was considering legal action on a "personal and organisational basis". An application for a High Court judicial review
of the report was made by the Police Association trade union in 2002 and withdrawn in 2003.
He further added: "I consider it to be a report of an erroneous conclusion reached in advance and then a desperate attempt to find anything that might happen to fit in with that, and a determination to exclude anything which does not fit that erroneous conclusion". Flanagan said that if he believed the allegations in the report had been true "I would not only resign, I would publicly commit suicide."
O'Loan attracted both praise and criticism for her robust activity in investigating alleged abuses by officers in the Police Service of Northern Ireland
(PSNI). She has also served as a trusted intermediary
in controversial cases involving alleged criminal activity by Irish Republicans. This role came about because many Republicans did not yet recognise the PSNI as a legitimate and unbiased police service, and so refused to co-operate in its investigations. This role has largely disappeared as Sinn Féin
have now called upon republicans to assist the PSNI.
A UK House of Commons
Committee reported on the Police Ombudsman in 2005 and praised O'Loan, recommending that she be given wider powers. The same committee acknowledged that the Office was not seen as impartial by the PSNI and its officers and urged that these concerns be addressed. In December 2006, an independent survey by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency found that Protestants and Catholics are equally supportive of the Police Ombudsman. More than four out of five people questioned from both communities also believed that police officers and complainants would be treated fairly. In addition, a survey of police officers investigated by the Police Ombudsman's Office, suggests 85% believe they have been treated fairly by the office.
On 26 June 2007 former RCMP
Assistant Commissioner Al Hutchinson
succeeded O'Loan as Police Ombudsman on 5 November 2007.
Peter Mandelson
said she has displayed a "certain lack of experience and possibly gullibility" in relation to the same affair.
During the summer of 2006 her youngest son Ciarán, 18, was involved in an altercation with police in his home town. The PSNI announced their intention to caution him, but later reversed the decision without comment.
In October 2006 she was involved in a public row with Ian Paisley Jr. The incident happened in a Belfast coffee shop when Paisley was approached by O'Loan. She voiced her concerns on alleged comments made by Paisley about her children. Her marriage to a nationalist Social Democratic and Labour Party
(SDLP) councillor
has, in the past, caused Paisley to question her ability to remain independent. On her retirement, a farewell party was organised, to which all political parties were invited. However, no representatives from the Ulster Unionist Party
, Democratic Unionist Party
or Sinn Féin
attended.
In August 2008 O'Loan while being interviewed on BBC Radio 4
's Woman's Hour
caused controversy by reportedly claiming that Protestants in Northern Ireland were brought up not to trust Catholics.
In 2008 Dame Nuala was made Person of the Year at Ireland's Annual People of the Year Awards.
On 3 July 2008 Dame Nuala was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws (LLD) by the University of Ulster
in recognition of her work as Police Ombudsman and for her contribution to the social development of Northern Ireland.
In 2008 Dame Nuala was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Laws by the Higher Education and Technical Awards Council, Ireland
In 2008 Dame Nuala was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Laws by the National University of Ireland, Maynooth
In 2010 Baroness O'Loan was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Laws by Queen's University Belfast
and the Ulster Volunteer Force in relation to the murder of Raymond McCord, Jnr in 1997.
Several crimes committed by informants working for Special Branch were investigated, including the killings of:
Most of the allegations concern an individual known as "Informant 1" , who acted as a Special Branch informant.
.
). Foreign Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern
announced the appointment of O'Loan during a two-day visit to the country.
. Consequently, she was raised to the peerage as Baroness O'Loan, of Kirkinriola in the County of Antrim on 11 September 2009.
.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 20 December 1951) is a noted public figure
Public figure
Public figure is a legal term applied in the context of defamation actions as well as invasion of privacy. A public figure cannot base a lawsuit on incorrect harmful statements unless there is proof that the writer or publisher acted with actual malice...
in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. She was the first Police Ombudsman in between 1999 and 2007. In July 2009, it was announced that she was to be appointed to the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
. Consequently, she was raised to the peerage as Baroness O'Loan, of Kirkinriola in the County of Antrim on 11 September 2009. In December 2010, National University of Ireland, Maynooth
National University of Ireland, Maynooth
The National University of Ireland, Maynooth , was founded by the Universities Act, 1997 as a constituent university of the National University of Ireland. It is Ireland's second oldest university, having been formed from St Patrick's College, Maynooth, itself founded in 1795.The university is...
appointed her as Chairman of its Governing Authority.
Background
O'Loan was born and educated in HertfordshireHertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
, England, one of eight siblings. She studied law at King's College London
King's College London
King's College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. King's has a claim to being the third oldest university in England, having been founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829, and...
, graduating in 1973, and became a law lecturer
Lecturer
Lecturer is an academic rank. In the United Kingdom, lecturer is a position at a university or similar institution, often held by academics in their early career stages, who lead research groups and supervise research students, as well as teach...
in Northern Ireland. In 1977 she survived an IRA bombing at Ulster Polytechnic, Jordanstown
Jordanstown
Jordanstown is the name of a townland and electoral ward in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is within the urban area called Newtownabbey and the wider Newtownabbey Borough....
, while pregnant; she lost the baby as a result.
She is married to Social Democratic and Labour Party
Social Democratic and Labour Party
The Social Democratic and Labour Party is a social-democratic, Irish nationalist political party in Northern Ireland. Its basic party platform advocates Irish reunification, and the further devolution of powers while Northern Ireland remains part of the United Kingdom...
(SDLP) North Antrim
North Antrim
North Antrim can refer to:*The northern part of County Antrim*North Antrim *North Antrim *North Antrim...
MLA, Declan O'Loan
Declan O'Loan
Declan O'Loan is a former member of the Northern Ireland Assembly in the North Antrim constituency, and a serving member of Ballymena Borough Council. He is a member of the Social Democratic and Labour Party , but the party whip was withdrawn on 25 May 2010.O'Loan was elected for the SDLP in the...
; they have five sons. One of her sons, Damian, was badly beaten up in the Oldpark section of North Belfast. The attack, in June 2006, required him to receive hospital treatment. The motive for the attack has not yet been established. She was also a voluntary marriage counsellor, working particularly to prepare young people from different religions who are getting married.
Previous career
O'Loan is a qualified solicitorSolicitor
Solicitors are lawyers who traditionally deal with any legal matter including conducting proceedings in courts. In the United Kingdom, a few Australian states and the Republic of Ireland, the legal profession is split between solicitors and barristers , and a lawyer will usually only hold one title...
and was a law lecturer at the Ulster Polytechnic and University of Ulster
University of Ulster
The University of Ulster is a multi-campus, co-educational university located in Northern Ireland. It is the largest single university in Ireland, discounting the federal National University of Ireland...
from 1974 to 1992. She was then a Senior Lecturer
Senior lecturer
Senior lecturer is an academic rank. In the United Kingdom, lecturer is a faculty position at a university or similar institution. Especially in research-intensive universities, lecturers lead research groups and supervise research students, as well as teach...
holding the Jean Monnet Chair in European Law
Jean Monnet
Jean Omer Marie Gabriel Monnet was a French political economist and diplomat. He is regarded by many as a chief architect of European Unity and is regarded as one of its founding fathers...
at the University of Ulster from 1992 until her appointment as Ombudsman
Ombudsman
An ombudsman is a person who acts as a trusted intermediary between an organization and some internal or external constituency while representing not only but mostly the broad scope of constituent interests...
.
She has also been:
- Chairman of the Northern Ireland Consumer Committee for Electricity
- A Member of the Police AuthorityPolice authorityA police authority in the United Kingdom, is a body charged with securing efficient and effective policing of a police area served by a territorial police force or the area and/or activity policed by a special police force...
- Vice-Chair of the Police Authority's Community Relation Committee;
- A Member of the Northern Health and Social Services Board
- Convenor for Complaints for the Northern Health and Social Services Board
- A Member of the General Consumer Council, and Convenor of the Transport and Energy Group of that Council
- A Legal expert member of the European CommissionEuropean CommissionThe European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
's Consumers Consultative Council
A member of the Green Economy Working Group
Chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission's Human Rights Enquiry
Independent custody visitor (formerly known as 'lay visitor')
For seven years, she was an independent custody visitorIndependent custody visitor
An independent custody visitor is someone who visits people who are detained in police stations in the United Kingdom to ensure that they are being treated properly...
("lay visitor") to police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
stations, which meant she could speak to people being detained, at any time of the day or night.
Career as Ombudsman
O'Loan was appointed by the Government of the United Kingdom to the post of Police Ombudsman designate in 1999. The Ombudsman's Office was created by the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 1998. This reform came into force some two weeks prior to the Belfast AgreementBelfast Agreement
The Good Friday Agreement or Belfast Agreement , sometimes called the Stormont Agreement, was a major political development in the Northern Ireland peace process...
and the office's existence and practice has been the subject of continued controversy since.
In August 2001, she was tasked with looking into police handling of the Omagh bombing
Omagh bombing
The Omagh bombing was a car bomb attack carried out by the Real Irish Republican Army , a splinter group of former Provisional Irish Republican Army members opposed to the Good Friday Agreement, on Saturday 15 August 1998, in Omagh, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. Twenty-nine people died as a...
in 1998. This terrorist attack left twenty-nine people (plus two unborn children) dead. Her report, published in December 2001, found that the Royal Ulster Constabulary
Royal Ulster Constabulary
The Royal Ulster Constabulary was the name of the police force in Northern Ireland from 1922 to 2000. Following the awarding of the George Cross in 2000, it was subsequently known as the Royal Ulster Constabulary GC. It was founded on 1 June 1922 out of the Royal Irish Constabulary...
had prior knowledge of some form of attack planned for that area and it questioned the leadership of Northern Ireland's then Chief Constable
Chief Constable
Chief constable is the rank used by the chief police officer of every territorial police force in the United Kingdom except for the City of London Police and the Metropolitan Police, as well as the chief officers of the three 'special' national police forces, the British Transport Police, Ministry...
, Sir Ronnie Flanagan
Ronnie Flanagan
Sir Ronald Flanagan, GBE, QPM, was the Home Office Chief Inspector of Constabulary for the United Kingdom excluding Scotland...
.
Responding to the report, Flanagan said he considered the report to represent neither a "fair, thorough or rigorous investigation". He said he was considering legal action on a "personal and organisational basis". An application for a High Court judicial review
Judicial review
Judicial review is the doctrine under which legislative and executive actions are subject to review by the judiciary. Specific courts with judicial review power must annul the acts of the state when it finds them incompatible with a higher authority...
of the report was made by the Police Association trade union in 2002 and withdrawn in 2003.
He further added: "I consider it to be a report of an erroneous conclusion reached in advance and then a desperate attempt to find anything that might happen to fit in with that, and a determination to exclude anything which does not fit that erroneous conclusion". Flanagan said that if he believed the allegations in the report had been true "I would not only resign, I would publicly commit suicide."
O'Loan attracted both praise and criticism for her robust activity in investigating alleged abuses by officers in the Police Service of Northern Ireland
Police Service of Northern Ireland
The Police Service of Northern Ireland is the police force that serves Northern Ireland. It is the successor to the Royal Ulster Constabulary which, in turn, was the successor to the Royal Irish Constabulary in Northern Ireland....
(PSNI). She has also served as a trusted intermediary
Intermediary
An intermediary is a third party that offers intermediation services between two trading parties. The intermediary acts as a conduit for goods or services offered by a supplier to a consumer...
in controversial cases involving alleged criminal activity by Irish Republicans. This role came about because many Republicans did not yet recognise the PSNI as a legitimate and unbiased police service, and so refused to co-operate in its investigations. This role has largely disappeared as Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970...
have now called upon republicans to assist the PSNI.
A UK House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
Committee reported on the Police Ombudsman in 2005 and praised O'Loan, recommending that she be given wider powers. The same committee acknowledged that the Office was not seen as impartial by the PSNI and its officers and urged that these concerns be addressed. In December 2006, an independent survey by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency found that Protestants and Catholics are equally supportive of the Police Ombudsman. More than four out of five people questioned from both communities also believed that police officers and complainants would be treated fairly. In addition, a survey of police officers investigated by the Police Ombudsman's Office, suggests 85% believe they have been treated fairly by the office.
On 26 June 2007 former RCMP
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police , literally ‘Royal Gendarmerie of Canada’; colloquially known as The Mounties, and internally as ‘The Force’) is the national police force of Canada, and one of the most recognized of its kind in the world. It is unique in the world as a national, federal,...
Assistant Commissioner Al Hutchinson
Al Hutchinson
Al Hutchinson is a former RCMP Assistant Commissioner, who served as the Police Oversight Commissioner in Northern Ireland, who in November 2007 became the second Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland....
succeeded O'Loan as Police Ombudsman on 5 November 2007.
Controversy
Former Ulster Unionist MP Ken Maginnis said, in relation to her handling of the Omagh Bomb Inquiry, that it was as though she had walked through "police interests and community interests like a suicide bomber". Former Secretary of StateSecretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, informally the Northern Ireland Secretary, is the principal secretary of state in the government of the United Kingdom with responsibilities for Northern Ireland. The Secretary of State is a Minister of the Crown who is accountable to the Parliament of...
Peter Mandelson
Peter Mandelson
Peter Benjamin Mandelson, Baron Mandelson, PC is a British Labour Party politician, who was the Member of Parliament for Hartlepool from 1992 to 2004, served in a number of Cabinet positions under both Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, and was a European Commissioner...
said she has displayed a "certain lack of experience and possibly gullibility" in relation to the same affair.
During the summer of 2006 her youngest son Ciarán, 18, was involved in an altercation with police in his home town. The PSNI announced their intention to caution him, but later reversed the decision without comment.
In October 2006 she was involved in a public row with Ian Paisley Jr. The incident happened in a Belfast coffee shop when Paisley was approached by O'Loan. She voiced her concerns on alleged comments made by Paisley about her children. Her marriage to a nationalist Social Democratic and Labour Party
Social Democratic and Labour Party
The Social Democratic and Labour Party is a social-democratic, Irish nationalist political party in Northern Ireland. Its basic party platform advocates Irish reunification, and the further devolution of powers while Northern Ireland remains part of the United Kingdom...
(SDLP) councillor
Councillor
A councillor or councilor is a member of a local government council, such as a city council.Often in the United States, the title is councilman or councilwoman.-United Kingdom:...
has, in the past, caused Paisley to question her ability to remain independent. On her retirement, a farewell party was organised, to which all political parties were invited. However, no representatives from the Ulster Unionist Party
Ulster Unionist Party
The Ulster Unionist Party – sometimes referred to as the Official Unionist Party or, in a historic sense, simply the Unionist Party – is the more moderate of the two main unionist political parties in Northern Ireland...
, Democratic Unionist Party
Democratic Unionist Party
The Democratic Unionist Party is the larger of the two main unionist political parties in Northern Ireland. Founded by Ian Paisley and currently led by Peter Robinson, it is currently the largest party in the Northern Ireland Assembly and the fourth-largest party in the House of Commons of the...
or Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970...
attended.
In August 2008 O'Loan while being interviewed on BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
's Woman's Hour
Woman's Hour
Woman's Hour is a radio magazine programme broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in the United Kingdom.-History:Created by Norman Collins and originally presented by Alan Ivimey the programme was first broadcast on 7 October 1946 on the BBC's Light Programme . It was transferred to its current home in 1973...
caused controversy by reportedly claiming that Protestants in Northern Ireland were brought up not to trust Catholics.
Awards
In 2003, the Annual Conference of the National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement (a US organisation) presented O'Loan with an award for her contribution to police accountability.In 2008 Dame Nuala was made Person of the Year at Ireland's Annual People of the Year Awards.
On 3 July 2008 Dame Nuala was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws (LLD) by the University of Ulster
University of Ulster
The University of Ulster is a multi-campus, co-educational university located in Northern Ireland. It is the largest single university in Ireland, discounting the federal National University of Ireland...
in recognition of her work as Police Ombudsman and for her contribution to the social development of Northern Ireland.
In 2008 Dame Nuala was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Laws by the Higher Education and Technical Awards Council, Ireland
In 2008 Dame Nuala was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Laws by the National University of Ireland, Maynooth
In 2010 Baroness O'Loan was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Laws by Queen's University Belfast
Operation Ballast investigation into collusion
On 22 January 2007 she published the results of Operation Ballast, an investigation into collusion between the Royal Ulster ConstabularyRoyal Ulster Constabulary
The Royal Ulster Constabulary was the name of the police force in Northern Ireland from 1922 to 2000. Following the awarding of the George Cross in 2000, it was subsequently known as the Royal Ulster Constabulary GC. It was founded on 1 June 1922 out of the Royal Irish Constabulary...
and the Ulster Volunteer Force in relation to the murder of Raymond McCord, Jnr in 1997.
Several crimes committed by informants working for Special Branch were investigated, including the killings of:
- Raymond McCord, Junior
- Peter McTasney
- Sharon McKenna
- Sean McParland
- Gary Convie
- Eamon Fox
- Gerard Brady
- John Harbinson
Most of the allegations concern an individual known as "Informant 1" , who acted as a Special Branch informant.
Damehood
She was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) on 29 December 2007 in the 2008 New Year HonoursNew Year Honours 2008
The New Year Honours 2008 for the Commonwealth Realms were announced on 29 December 2007, to celebrate the year passed and mark the beginning of 2008....
.
Appointment to Timor-Leste
On 19 February 2008, O'Loan was appointed by the Irish Government as special envoy in Timor-Leste (East TimorEast Timor
The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, commonly known as East Timor , is a state in Southeast Asia. It comprises the eastern half of the island of Timor, the nearby islands of Atauro and Jaco, and Oecusse, an exclave on the northwestern side of the island, within Indonesian West Timor...
). Foreign Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern
Dermot Ahern
Dermot Christopher Ahern is a former Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He was a Teachta Dála for the Louth constituency from 1987 to 2011...
announced the appointment of O'Loan during a two-day visit to the country.
Peerage
In July 2009 it was announced that she was to be appointed to the House of LordsHouse of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
. Consequently, she was raised to the peerage as Baroness O'Loan, of Kirkinriola in the County of Antrim on 11 September 2009.
Chairage
In December 2010 it was announced that she was to be immediately appointed to Chairman of the Governing Authority by National University of Ireland, MaynoothNational University of Ireland, Maynooth
The National University of Ireland, Maynooth , was founded by the Universities Act, 1997 as a constituent university of the National University of Ireland. It is Ireland's second oldest university, having been formed from St Patrick's College, Maynooth, itself founded in 1795.The university is...
.