PSNI fail to decommission gun

Gerry Kelly has criticised the PSNI after a six hour delay in attending the scene where an illegal weapon was found led to the gun being back on the streets.
A local man was cutting the hedges of elderly relatives in the Bawnmore estate when he came across a gun hidden in the hedge however by the time the PSNI arrived six hours later the gun was gone.

Gerry Kelly said the delay by Newtownabbey police has led to a weapon unnecessarily back on the streets.
“This is hugely alarming. A gun is now back amongst the community because of police failure to attend to an emergency situation," he said.
"The weapon is now freely available and at the disposal of whoever removed it from the scene. As a direct result of their delay the gun is now in the wrong hands and who knows what damage it could do.
"There are serious questions that need to be answered here. Not least that the PSNI asking the man to handle the gun was extremely inappropriate and put his own safety at risk."

The Stormont minister is now making an official complaint to the Police Ombudsman to get answers on the PSNI involvement in the incident.
"I have written to the Police Ombudsman asking them to investigate the circumstances. We will also be contacting the PSNI at a senior level to ask for answers.”