Northern Ireland's Police Ombudsman has been told she is not to be prosecuted following an investigation into events linked to a domestic incident at her home two years ago.
The Public Prosecution Service made the announcement this morning.
Marie Anderson was investigated for the potential offences of perverting the course of justice and misconduct in public office.
The incident resulted in a male receiving a caution for common assault.
The PPS said, having considered a file submitted by investigators into the alleged actions of the Ombudsman, there was "no reasonable prospect of conviction for any criminal offence".
Ms Anderson is on a period of extended leave since the summer, but remains in office until later this year.
The issue dates back to 2023 and an incident at Ms Anderson's home, to which officers responded.
The PSNI subsequently called in West Midlands Police to review the circumstances and the interactions with the officers.
The PPS said the Ombudsman had been investigated in relation to events arising from a reported domestic incident in Holywood, Co Down, in September 2023.
"This was a highly complex and sensitive matter which was given careful consideration by a team of senior prosecutors and highly experienced independent senior counsel," said Director of Public Prosecutions Stephen Herron.
"This case has understandably generated significant public interest and speculation - much of which was factually incorrect.
"The central allegation in this case was that the Ombudsman had misconducted herself in public office or attempted to pervert the course of justice through her interactions with police who were investigating the incident referred to above.
"The legal threshold for both offences is high. In assessing whether the test for prosecution was met, prosecutors considered all the relevant facts and circumstances, including the particular context in which the interactions took place; contemporaneous records made by police in relation to what was said by her; and the evidence from senior police who spoke directly to the Ombudsman during key stages of the relevant events.
"It was concluded that the evidence was insufficient to establish that the Ombudsman was either acting, or purporting to act as a public officer at the relevant times; or that she misconducted herself or attempted to pervert the course of justice through anything she said or did in response to police inquiries."
In June this year, Ms Anderson announced that she intended to retire from the role in December.
She said due to "public commentary", she had decided to take "temporary leave of absence with immediate effect".
A solicitor by profession, Ms Anderson took on the role of Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland in 2019.
She has overseen a number of high-profile investigations which found evidence of collusive behaviour between members of the security forces and loyalist paramilitaries in Troubles' murders.
She also previously served as Northern Ireland's Public Services Ombudsman and helped to oversee standards in local government as well as judicial appointments.
She also spent five years as the assistant Information Commissioner for Northern Ireland.
