An inspector who described the office of the Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman as "dysfunctional" and said it should suspend investigations of historical cases has been appointed as its new head.
Dr Michael Maguire has been Chief Inspector of Criminal Justice in Northern Ireland for the past three-and-a-half years.
A report he published last year said the former ombudsman, Al Hutchinson, had lost the confidence of senior members of his staff.
It also said a number of reports produced by the office had been re-written to reduce criticism of the police.
The report was one of a number of factors behind the early departure of Mr Hutchinson earlier this year. Its author has now been appointed to succeed him.
Mr Hutchison had been Police Ombudsman since 2007, when he replaced Nuala O'Loan.
About 30 people had applied for the vacant post, which has covered controversial Troubles killings, historic inquests and investigations as well as more recent police actions which caused death or injury.
Dr Maguire, 52, is from the Belfast area. He was a partner in the international consulting firm PA Consulting Group for 10 years.
He has worked across a wide range of areas including criminal justice, health, education, equality, economic and social development. His inquiries on criminal justice have also covered the prison service and other agencies.
According to Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland's website, he has experience in the delivery of complex change programmes and in the management of multi-disciplinary international assignment teams and has worked at the highest levels of the public and private sectors.
