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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Duncan McCausland: Former senior PSNI officer released from custody | Duncan McCausland: Former senior PSNI officer released from custody |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A former PSNI assistant chief constable who was one of seven men questioned about the awarding of police vehicle contracts has been released. | A former PSNI assistant chief constable who was one of seven men questioned about the awarding of police vehicle contracts has been released. |
| Duncan McCausland was arrested on Tuesday along with five other men, including a serving police officer. | Duncan McCausland was arrested on Tuesday along with five other men, including a serving police officer. |
| All six men have been released pending reports to prosecutors. On Thursday morning, a 71-year-old man in County Down was arrested and is in custody. | |
| Mr McCausland said he "strenuously denies" the allegations. | Mr McCausland said he "strenuously denies" the allegations. |
| He said: "I am going to go out of my way to ensure I can prove my innocence." | He said: "I am going to go out of my way to ensure I can prove my innocence." |
| The 54-year-old was once one of Northern Ireland's most high-profile officers. | The 54-year-old was once one of Northern Ireland's most high-profile officers. |
| He retired from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) in March 2011. | He retired from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) in March 2011. |
| Following his arrest, Mr McCausland was taken to Antrim police station where PSNI detectives questioned him for three days. | Following his arrest, Mr McCausland was taken to Antrim police station where PSNI detectives questioned him for three days. |
| His release from custody is pending a report being sent to the Public Prosecutions Service (PPS). | His release from custody is pending a report being sent to the Public Prosecutions Service (PPS). |
| Arrest not 'necessary' | Arrest not 'necessary' |
| Speaking outside the station following his release, the former officer said he was "disappointed" to be arrested and that he was happy to attend the station voluntarily "throughout the entire process". | Speaking outside the station following his release, the former officer said he was "disappointed" to be arrested and that he was happy to attend the station voluntarily "throughout the entire process". |
| "I've actually told them that I'm happy to come back and assist them with anything else that they wish to talk to me about," he said. | "I've actually told them that I'm happy to come back and assist them with anything else that they wish to talk to me about," he said. |
| "But I fully understand what they had to do and they treated me in a very professional manner, which is what I would have expected." | "But I fully understand what they had to do and they treated me in a very professional manner, which is what I would have expected." |
| Mr McCausland's solicitor added that they did not believe it was "necessary" for police to arrest him but they would "definitely not" be making any sort of complaint. | Mr McCausland's solicitor added that they did not believe it was "necessary" for police to arrest him but they would "definitely not" be making any sort of complaint. |
| He said: "The staff within the building have been excellent, they have treated him with the utmost respect, so there is no issue whatsoever." | He said: "The staff within the building have been excellent, they have treated him with the utmost respect, so there is no issue whatsoever." |
| Suspended | Suspended |
| PSNI detectives are investigating allegations connected to contracts for the PSNI's fleet of vehicles and the first six arrests were made in Northern Ireland and England on Tuesday morning. | PSNI detectives are investigating allegations connected to contracts for the PSNI's fleet of vehicles and the first six arrests were made in Northern Ireland and England on Tuesday morning. |
| The Northern Ireland arrests took place in counties Antrim, Down and Tyrone and the detainees included Mr McCausland, a 48-year-old serving police officer, a 37-year-old member of the PSNI's civilian staff and a 62-year-old civilian. | The Northern Ireland arrests took place in counties Antrim, Down and Tyrone and the detainees included Mr McCausland, a 48-year-old serving police officer, a 37-year-old member of the PSNI's civilian staff and a 62-year-old civilian. |
| Two civilians aged 34 and 54, who were arrested in England, were brought to Northern Ireland for questioning. | Two civilians aged 34 and 54, who were arrested in England, were brought to Northern Ireland for questioning. |
| On Thursday morning, a 71-year-old pensioner in County Down became the seventh man to be detained as part of the investigation. | On Thursday morning, a 71-year-old pensioner in County Down became the seventh man to be detained as part of the investigation. |
| Later that evening, Mr McCausland and the civilian worker with the PSNI were both released pending a file being sent to the PPS. | Later that evening, Mr McCausland and the civilian worker with the PSNI were both released pending a file being sent to the PPS. |
| The PSNI civilian staff member has been suspended from duty. | The PSNI civilian staff member has been suspended from duty. |
| On Friday morning, the 62-year-old civilian was also released pending a report to PPS. | |
| In the early afternoon, police said the two men, aged 34 and 54, who were arrested in England on Tuesday had also been released pending a report to the PPS. | |
| Later on Friday, the 48-year-old serving police officer was released. He has been suspended from duty. | |
| The County Down pensioner remains in custody. |