The head of the office that investigates complaints against the PSNI has stepped down from the role days after the conclusion of a police investigation into an alleged domestic incident at her home.
In a statement, Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman Marie Anderson said she was taking a temporary leave of absence with immediate effect because "current commentary" was distracting from her work.
She took up the position in 2019 with a fixed term of office of seven years and had been due to retire in December.
Her office investigates allegations of misconduct by police officers, including historical allegations of collusion between officers and paramilitaries.
The PSNI called in West Midlands Police to investigate an allegation about an alleged incident at her home in Co Down in September 2023.
Unionist politicians called on her to step aside while that investigation was taking place, but she remained in office.
They repeated those calls when it was confirmed last week that the investigation had been completed and a file sent to Northern Ireland's Public Prosecution Service (PPS).
The PPS has confirmed that it received a file reporting one individual for potential offences of perverting the course of justice and misconduct in public office.
"All the available evidence in the investigation will be carefully considered by a senior public prosecutor and the Test for Prosecution applied," a spokesperson said in a statement. "A decision will issue in due course."
Anderson decision 'late in the day' - DUP's Clarke
In a statement this afternoon, Ms Anderson announced that she was stepping aside.
"Although I decided to retire in December this year, which would have allowed me to fulfil my commitments to delivering the outcomes of investigations to a number of bereaved families, it has become increasingly clear that current commentary is detracting from the focus of that work," she said.
"I am extremely grateful to those families who put their trust in me, and it is in their interests which are at the heart of my decision today to take a temporary leave of absence with immediate effect."
The statement said authority for running the office of the Police Ombudsman has been delegated to the chief executive and senior staff.
"This will ensure the vital work of the office continues, as there is no legal provision for the Office to function without a Police Ombudsman," the statement added.
"I have every confidence in all my staff and know they will work diligently and am grateful for their support in recent times."
Trevor Clarke, a DUP member of the Northern Ireland Policing Board, said the decision to take a temporary leave of absence had "come late in the day", and added that Ms Anderson should have stepped aside earlier.
"The DUP has been consistently raising this issue at the Policing Board, but the statement today appears only to have come following more significant public discussion on the news," he said in a statement.
"During that time there has been continued damage to public confidence in the Ombudsman's office."
