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Marie Anderson left her role at the end of 2025 (Liam McBurney\/PA)<\/p>\nThe British prime minister has been urged to ensure that a probe into Government security vetting following revelations about Peter Mandelson also includes a \u201cdeep dive\u201d into the appointment of a former police ombudsman in Northern Ireland.<\/p>\n
DUP leader Gavin Robinson claimed that Marie Anderson had been appointed to the role in 2019 \u201cdespite security concerns\u201d.<\/p>\n
Anderson, who was responsible for investigating complaints against police officers, retired from the role at the end of 2025.<\/p>\n
Why she was appointed, why the security information was ignored and how this can be the case?<\/p>\n
Gavin Robinson<\/p>\n
In the House of Commons on Monday, Keir Starmer answered questions from MPs about the security vetting when Mandelson was appointed as US ambassador.<\/p>\n
Mandelson was sacked in September last year after revelations about the extent of his relationship with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.<\/p>\n
Robinson told the Starmer he was the \u201cmain character in an ongoing national scandal\u201d.<\/p>\n
He added that it was \u201cincredible to learn that in Northern Ireland a political appointment was made following the refusal to clear an individual for security access\u201d.<\/p>\n
The DUP leader said Anderson had engaged in legacy issues in the region \u201cdespite Security Service concerns\u201d.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cIf the Prime Minister is ordering a review by Sir Adrian Fulford, will he ensure it includes within its terms of reference or separately, a deep dive into the appointment of Marie Anderson, the Northern Ireland police ombudsman.<\/p>\n
Marie Anderson left her role at the end of 2025 (Liam McBurney\/PA)<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy she was appointed, why the security information was ignored and how this can be the case?\u201d<\/p>\n
Starmer said: \u201cI will ensure the review covers all the relevant issues and material and I will take into account what he has just said.\u201d<\/p>\n
Earlier, DUP MLA Trevor Clarke told MLAs that concerns had been raised about the \u201cintegrity\u201d of vetting processes in the appointment of Ms Anderson.<\/p>\n
Clarke told the Northern Ireland Assembly that the former ombudsman had been appointed at a time when there was no devolved government in Northern Ireland.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cThe appointment process rested solely with the Northern Ireland Office.\u201d<\/p>\n
The MLA added: \u201cConcerns have now been raised with me and others regarding the integrity of that appointment process, something we should all be concerned about.<\/p>\n
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Starmer said he would ensure the review \u2018covers all the relevant issues and material\u2019 and would take Mr Robinson\u2019s concerns into account (Stefan Rousseau\/PA)<\/p>\n
\u201cMs Anderson was nevertheless deemed appointable and subsequently appointed to the role which carries access to very highly sensitive information regarding senior policing personnel, something which alarmed us then and should alarm us more now.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf such claims are accurate, they raise deep and serious concerns about the robustness of the vetting process, the safeguards that were put in place at the time and the decision making that led to her particular appointment.\u201d<\/p>\n
Clarke said it was \u201cessential that full transparency is provided on this matter\u201d.<\/p>\n
A Northern Ireland Office spokesperson said: \u201cMarie Anderson was appointed in 2019 by the then secretary of state.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are looking into our records and will respond as soon as possible.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Prime Minister has also confirmed this matter will be included as part of the Fulford review.\u201d<\/p>\n
The office of the Police Ombudsman has also been approached for comment.<\/p>\n
Following her appointment, Ms Anderson was investigated for alleged misconduct in public office and also for the potential offence of perverting the course of justice following a domestic incident in Co Down in 2023.<\/p>\n
It came following the conclusion of an independent investigation into events relating to an incident at a property linked to Anderson in Holywood.<\/p>\n
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The Prime Minister was answering questions from MPs about the security vetting when Peter Mandelson was appointed as US ambassador (James Manning\/PA)<\/p>\n
Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) officers went to the property at about 6.30pm on Saturday, September 23rd 2023, after a report of a domestic incident.<\/p>\n
A man was arrested as part of the inquiry and later cautioned for common assault.<\/p>\n
West Midlands Police were then tasked with investigating further aspects of the incident.<\/p>\n
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