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Police defend blurring suspect's face over taxi driver shooting

PSNI Two photos side by side. On the left: two men walking side by side in black with blurred faces, hoods up and black shoes walking on a wet looking pavement. On the right: two men's back, walking away side by side. The one on the left is wearing a yellow high viz jacket. The background is blurred out. PSNI
On Tuesday detectives released still images of the two suspects with the aim of encouraging anyone with information, or footage, to come forward

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has defended blurring the face of a suspect in the shooting of taxi driver Sean O'Reilly earlier this year.

On Tuesday detectives released images of the two suspects with the aim of encouraging anyone with information, or footage, to come forward.

Sean O'Reilly, 49, has questioned why the PSNI have released these images with the faces of the suspects pixelated, whilst at the same time asking the public to help identify them.

Mr O'Reilly was shot twice as he sat inside his taxi in the Bell Steel Manor area of west Belfast on 23 February.

He survived but underwent surgery to remove a bullet from his collarbone and repair a damaged nerve in his arm.

He was said to be a member of Republican Network for Unity, a small political group with links to the dissident organisation Óglaigh na hÉireann.

Pacemaker Two men in hazmat suits peer into a white taxi. There is a police cordon saying, 'do not cross' on itPacemaker
Mr O'Reilly survived the shooting but underwent surgery to remove a bullet from his collarbone and repair a damaged nerve in his arm

In a statement on behalf of Mr O'Reilly, his solicitor Peter Corrigan said: "We have serious concerns around the investigation into our clients attempted murder.

"This is just the latest unusual occurrence in this investigation. We see no good reason why the PSNI would ask for help in identifying suspects and at the same time take steps to pixelate the faces of the suspects.

"One has to question the motive behind this and who the PSNI are seeking to protect. We will now add this to a long list of complaints already made to the Police Ombudsman in relation to the handling of the case."

In response, the PSNI said that "In one of the images, the face of one suspect has been pixelated. This has been purposefully applied in order to prevent potential misidentification or retribution.

"Instead, it is hoped that both images, backed by the reward from Crimestoppers, will encourage anyone with information to get in touch using the appropriate channels.

"Detectives have made a particular ask, and would reiterate their appeal, to anyone with CCTV to check for similar images that may have been captured from the morning of Sunday 23 February."