Ombudsman chief executive Hugh Hume said it was clear that Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) teams tasked with detecting and investigating online child sexual abuse by catfish abuser Alexander McCartney were under-resourced and under pressure.

However, although under-resourcing was found to have resulted in delayed police inquiries and the ineffective management of McCartney’s bail conditions, Mr Hume said the investigation had identified no misconduct by any individual police officer, given the pressures they had been under.

In October 2024, McCartney, from Newry in Co Down, was sentenced to a minimum of 20 years in prison after being convicted of offences including unlawful act manslaughter, inciting children to engage in sexual activity, and making and possessing indecent imag

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