Two Armagh police officers have gone on trial accused of making false statements against a so-called known trouble maker.
Conor Creelan and Roy Lucas, whose addresses were given as Armagh PSNI Station, deny perverting the course of justice.
They are both on trial for allegedly colluding together to make false witness statements on June 22 and October 17, 2014.
Prosecution barrister Geraldine McCullough told the court that the case came about after a complaint by an Armagh man to the Police Ombudsman’s office. His complaint followed a failed prosecution by the PSNI for disorderly behaviour.
The officers on trial said the man had been swearing and acting in a disorderly fashion, despite being warned about his behaviour.
However, that particular case was dropped after the defendant’s lawyer produced video evidence which contradicted the policemen’s version of events.
During the Ombudsman’s subsequent investigations into the two officers it was found that despite claims neither had seen the other’s witness statement, an email, dated October 9, 2014, showed that Creelan asked Lucas for his statement, and included an attachment of his own witness statement.
Ms McCullough said the case may appear to be about a minor disturbance in Armagh by “a repeat offender who has a history of disorderly behaviour” but instead it was about police officers jeopardising the criminal justice system.
The case continues at Newry Crown Court.
