Girl wrongly linked to PSNI on poster fears she has been made a goal
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n “outraged” girl who was wrongly linked to the PSNI on a poster erected in Co Londonderry has stated she believes she has been made a goal for an assault.
In a press release launched by way of her solicitor, the unnamed girl stated she will not be a police officer and has by no means been employed by the PSNI in any capability.
Police have launched an investigation after the poster was positioned in a bus shelter in Dungiven on Thursday.
A PSNI assertion on Friday stated the poster contained particulars of “three serving officers”, however a supplementary assertion launched a number of hours later stated the knowledge on the poster was incorrect.
This is simply plain incorrect and I’m outraged that I’ve now probably been made a goal for an imminent assault on my life
The drive confirmed on Saturday that the girl has no present or historic hyperlinks to the PSNI.
The poster was positioned within the shelter weeks after the small print of about 10,000 officers and employees had been mistakenly launched on-line in a significant PSNI knowledge breach.
Police confirmed on Saturday that two arrests had been made as a part of an investigation into criminality linked to the info breach.
In a press release launched by way of Madden and Finucane solicitors, the girl stated: “My personal information was written on the poster that was put up in Dungiven that linked myself, my partner and two other named individuals to the PSNI.
“I live in a small rural village and everyone in the area who has seen the poster thinks that it is referring to me, although everyone would know that I am not a police officer.
“I can categorically clarify that I am not a serving police officer and I have never been employed by the police in any capacity.
“This is just plain wrong and I am outraged that I have now potentially been made a target for an imminent attack on my life.
“I am left deeply upset and concerned about the situation and am disappointed that the PSNI refused my request to issue a statement confirming that I am not a police officer.”
Solicitor Michael Madden stated: “The PSNI initially stated that those named on the poster are serving police officers.
“My client has been identified as being one of those named on the poster however she is not a serving officer and never has been.
“The PSNI have since issued another statement to confirm that the information on the poster is inaccurate, however it does not state what information is inaccurate.
“My client does not feel that the latest PSNI statement goes far enough to allay her concerns for her safety.
“I have contacted the PSNI and hope to find a resolution that protects our client’s safety and well-being.”
A PSNI spokesperson stated: “We will not usually discuss the security of individuals but on this occasion I can confirm that the person raising these concerns has no current or historic links to the police service.
“This is one of a number of inaccuracies in the information contained in the poster.”
PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Chris Todd stated on Friday that the incident in Dungiven was “a clear attempt to intimidate police officers, staff and their families”.
Last month, particulars of officers and employees, together with the surname and first preliminary of each worker, their rank or grade, the place they’re based mostly and the unit they work in had been launched in response to a freedom of data request.
The PSNI has confirmed the listing is within the palms of dissident republicans, who proceed to focus on officers.
Detectives investigating criminality linked to the liberty of data knowledge breach carried out a search within the Portadown space on Saturday.
A PSNI spokesperson stated two males, aged 21 and 22, have been arrested underneath the Terrorism Act and brought to Musgrave Serious Crime Suite for questioning.
Detective Chief Inspector Avine Kelly stated: “We continue to work toward establishing those who possess information relating to last week’s data breach, and will take action to ensure that any criminality identified is dealt with robustly to keep communities, and our officers and staff who serve them, safe.”