Ulster Unionist Policing Board member, Mike Nesbitt MLA, has urged Jon Boutcher, who leads Operation Kenova, to reconsider his participation in Lambeth Palace talks.
Mr Nesbitt said:
“I was very surprised to hear that Jon Boutcher had attended the Lambeth Palace legacy talks given the position that he holds in heading up Operation Kenova, which on its own website states that it is an ‘INDEPENDENT team to conduct the investigation into a range of activities surrounding an alleged individual codenamed Stakeknife.’
“Jon Boutcher came to the Policing Board recently and stressed how victim-centred he was in how he approaches his work, yet he was part of a group which met at Lambeth Palace to discuss legacy that starkly did not include victims. I would ask him to consider whether he has made an error of judgement in attending these talks and make clear whether he will be participating in future talks?
“It is very hard to see how he can independently head up Operation Kenova whilst at the same time participate in talks about future legacy arrangements. The two don`t go together.”