Two PSNI officers, one former and one serving, are due to be prosecuted over allegedly leaking of pictures which were taken at the scenes of sudden deaths.
Prosecutors said that the pair may go to trial for “numerous incidents including the alleged sharing of imagery taken at the scenes of sudden deaths”.
The prosecution comes under alleged misconduct in public office. One officer was dismissed from the PSNI, while the other has received a suspension from their duties, Belfast Live reported.
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The Public Prosecution Service (PPS) revealed the details after a file was submitted by the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland.
The investigation, known as Operation Warwick, looked at a number of incidents, including the alleged sharing of photos at the scene of sudden deaths.
It was reported that one individual is set to be prosecuted for three counts of improper use of a public electronic communications network contrary to the Communications Act 2003.
Following the submission of another file by the PSNI, the person is being prosecuted in connection with the alleged sharing of imagery captured at the scenes of sudden deaths. That case is being heard at the moment.
The PPS revealed that the families connected to one or both investigations after the death of a loved one in sudden circumstances of their decisions.
PPS assistant director Martin Hardy added that they will continue to liaise with the four families affected.
A PSNI spokesperson said: “The criminal investigation is being carried out by the Police Ombudsman. It would be in appropriate to comment further at this time.”
Belfast solicitor Pádraig Ó Muirigh said images of relatives of one of his clients were shared, while other images concern another dead individual whose family is represented by the firm.
He said: “Our clients welcome the decision by the PPS to prosecute two police officers in relation to this matter.
“The families concerned have been very frustrated at the delay in arriving to this point. Whilst they appreciate some investigations are more complex than others, this investigation has been ongoing for a number of years. Similar cases in England such as the prosecution of Metropolitan Police officers Deniz Jaffer and Jamie Lewis, who were jailed for two years after they photographed the bodies of Nicole Smallman and Bibaa Henry, were progressed much more expeditiously.
“There will be huge public interest in these cases and I think the families and the wider public will expect these matters to be progressed as speedily as possible through the justice system.”
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