Martin McGartland

1st April 2017

Dear Northumbria Police,

On 26 January 2015 at 08:44 Deputy Chief Constable Winton Keenen (7238) sent me this email;

"Good morning Marty,

The strength of feelings that you have regarding referring the complaint, that you refer to as a 'smear', to the IPCC is very apparent from your communications, as is your similar desire for the investigation into the attempted murder against you to be referred in a similar way.

For my part I am of the firm belief that the best way to deal with this matter is to have the investigation into your attempted murder reviewed by an independent Senior Investigating Officer (SIO) from this force.

I have given this matter a great deal of thought and remain of the view that this is the best way to proceed, giving you my assurance that the review will be thorough and independent of any person who has had dealings with any aspect of the investigation previously.

For this reason I have determined that the review will be carried out by an experienced, fully qualified officer at the rank of Detective Superintendent and have therefore selected Detective Superintendent Roger Ford, he being our most experienced SIO.

Given that many of the matters you have raised as complaints relate directly to the investigation into the awful attack upon you all those years ago I expect the findings of the review to also provide information that will assist in providing answers to the questions you have raised through the complaints process.

I do realise that you have been pushing for a different approach to this, however, I genuinely feel this is the best way ahead at present.

I will be tasking Superintendent Ford to draw up terms of reference for the review and will have contact established by him with you in order that he can outline these to you once agreed.

With best regards, Winton"

(Further details on DCC Winton Keenen, Northumbria Police page: http://www.northumbria.police.uk/about_u... )

Roger Ford has never made contact with me, I was never given a copy of any "terms of reference."

I have sent many emails to DCC Keenen, as the victim of an 18 year unsolved attempted murder, and I have asked that he supply me with a copy of Roger Ford's review findings and recommendations but my requests have been ignored. DCC Keenen, during past 27 months, has never given me any details about his, Roger Ford review of my attempted murder investigation case. A review that was only agreed after many complaints by me about no review ever having been carried out between June 1999 and Jan 2015.

I have asked Northumbria Police a question about a Crimewatch appeal (DCC Keenen also ignored this too) and within the past few days I was told this; "I will provide you with a more detailed update in due course as we have previously discussed but in relation to your question regarding Crime Watch – On 12/8/99 The then SIO D/Supt Simmons recorded that he had been advised by Crime Watch that they were reluctant to cooperate due to the potential link to terrorism.

I can highlight that a further approach to Crime watch was a recommendation of Roger Fords review. DCI Young considered this and this was not pursued based upon the past experience. (Recorded on 16th September 2015.)"

DCI Young ? I have never heard of him, I have never been informed by him (DCC Winton Keenen), or Northumbria Police that such an important decision had been made which relates to me (as the victim), my unsolved attempted murder case. No one bothered to tell me (because they want to cover it up). So far as I am concerned, above email proves it, DCC Winton Keenen was in charge, he was the decision maker and he should have made the decision, I maintain that he did and this is further sinister tactics and cover up by Northumbria Police because they have been caught out by me once again.

I would like to know;

1. Why Did DCC Winton Keenen ignore a recommendation made by Detective Superintendent Roger Ford who he stated was; "our most experienced SIO" "that a further approach to Crime watch" should be made?

2. Why did DCC Winton Keenen (or Northumbria Police) not inform me, as the victim, about Crime watch recommendation. Why did he and his force cover it up?

3. Why are Northumbria Police continuing to lie about Crimewatch appeal by claiming;
"I can highlight that a further approach to Crime watch was a recommendation of Roger Fords review. DCI Young considered this and this was not pursued based upon the past experience. (Recorded on 16th September 2015.)" ? Crimewatch have broadcast the following two appeals in June 2016: "Belfast: Catching The Killers of Gerard 'Jock' Davison" - (June 2016) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ToIMVJRA...

And in March 2017: "Attempted Murder Of A Police Officer In Belfast"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mq9EqQmQ...

Here are further details about the above cases being featured on Crimewatch: "BBC Crimewatch appeal over Gerard 'Jock' Davison murder in Belfast"; http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-irel...

"Police Service for Northern Ireland Attempted Murder Appeal"; http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles...

It is evident that Crimewatch do broadcast such appeals and it is very clear that Northumbria Police have been lying to me during the previous 18 years. I maintain that Northumbria Police not only do not want to catch those who tried to murder me but that they know the identities of individuals who were involved in my attempted murder (including their names) as a result of DNA identification, other forensic evidence and information, as well as intelligence, but that they are being protected because of political interference and the Northern Ireland Peace process.

How Crimewatch could have made a decision that they would not entertain an appeal relating to my attempted murder (as Northumbria Police have claimed, which by the way, I have never believed), so soon after the attempt on my life (July 1999, 1 month after my shooting), at a time when Northumbria Police were stating to me, as the victim, and also to the public that they did not know who shot me. In fact, to this day (almost 19 years later), Northumbria Police and its chief officers continue to claim that they have no evidence that the IRA was behind my shooting. They are deluded and if they repeat it often enough, perhaps they may even believe it themselves. They even claimed that they believe I was shot by individuals with Irish Republican Sympathies (you did read that correctly, you could not make it up). When it comes to my case, Northumbria Police and its chief officers were literally in space before the astronauts.

4. Will DCC Winton Keenen and Northumbria Police now follow the recommendation made by Superintendent Roger Ford to make a further approach to Crimewatch regarding an appeal concerning my attempted murder. If not, why not?

5. Will DCC Keenen and Northumbria Police now confirm that they will agree to an external force to review and investigate my 18 year unsolved attempted murder investigation. If they won't, please explain reason for this?

I am very concerned that DCC Winton Keenen (and Northumbria Police) are covering up other recommendations made by Superintendent Roger Ford. I am once again requesting that DCC Winton Keenen, Northumbria Police release the review report, in full, as well as all of the recommendations to me as the victim, to answer all of my outstanding questions without any further delay.

Some parts of this request may fall under DPA, however, the request is being made under all rights of access. Northumbria Police have still not complied with my outstanding SAR (from Jan 2016) and information relating to above should have been included but was not. I now expect all recorded information to be released to me without delay.

Yours faithfully,

Martin McGartland