THE PSNI HAS said the officer who waved an Armagh flag from a police vehicle to celebrate the Orchard County’s All-Ireland Senior Football Championship success will not be suspended or dismissed.

In a statement today, Chief Constable Jon Boutcher said the “internal investigation into what happened will be proportionate and will not be unduly influenced by anyone”.

On Sunday evening, footage on social media showed PSNI squad cars, using the vehicles’ sirens, waving Armagh flags from the windows in the village of Camlough. 

The PSNI announced on Monday that it had “commenced an internal investigation into the circumstances surrounding this.”

Boutcher said he has received “many telephone calls in both condemnation and support of the officers’ actions”.

“Some have asked for the officers to be suspended and even dismissed whilst others have supported the officers and called for commendations for them,” said Boutcher.

The PSNI Chief Constable said his “reaction is very straightforward” and that the PSNI has a duty to “at all times act professionally and independently”.

“That did not happen on Sunday night in Camlough,” said Boutcher.

While Boutcher confirmed that “no one is being suspended or dismissed”, he added that he does not “support what the officers did”.

“It is not lost on me that earlier on Sunday evening we issued a post on local Armagh social media channels rightly congratulating Armagh on winning the All-Ireland Final and putting details of our Fatal Five road safety messaging, reminding drivers to stay safe.

“Later that evening, police vehicles were seen being driven in Camlough in a manner which was irresponsible.

“I, of course, understand the sentiment of what those police officers were seeking to do in supporting the local community in Armagh’s brilliant win. But there are many other ways to show that support, driving in that manner is not one of them.”

Boutcher added that he is “very alive to the polarised commentary which has taken place” and remarked that it “again demonstrates that policing in Northern Ireland remains a lightning rod for societal views”.

The videos were heavily criticised by unionist politicians, with DUP leader Gavin Robinson claiming that the incident required the PSNI to “reaffirm confidence in the PSNI’s impartiality, integrity and professional standards”.

UUP leader Doug Beattie meanwhile labelled the incident “naive and reckless”. 

However, Sinn Féin MLA John O’Dowd said the incident “did more for community relations with the nationalist and Republican community than any glossy brochure or any glossy recruitment campaign will have ever done”.

He added: “What he showed was that he was part of the community, that he was involved with his community, and that he wanted to be part of the celebration of that community.

“I think it has been thrown out of all proportion and that officer should be allowed to go about his duties, and his duties are working with a community he serves.”

The incident on Sunday followed Armagh beating Galway by 1-11 to 0-13 points to lift the Sam Maguire and be crowned All-Ireland Football champions for only the second time, following their first win in 2002.