Published Date: 04.01.2012

The Police Ombudsman's Office is to investigate the response of the PSNI to the arson attack on a GAA clubhouse in Co. Derry/Londonderry last week.

Following the original decision to describe the fire as accidental, as a result of concerns raised the PSNI revised their assessment and announced it was treating the fire as arson. A senior officer was called in to review the police action from the first call about the fire, and the decision was taken today to refer the matter to the Police Ombudsman's Office for independent investigation.

Investigators from the Office will now conduct enquiries in relation to the police handling of the incident and the quality of the investigation. The PSNI will continue to investigate the arson attack itself.