Former PSNI officer retracts his allegations of sectarianism

Full statement from 'Sean' recanting his accusations of sectarianism against the PSNI's Tactical Support Group,

​The following is a statement from the former police officer Sean, who made accusations of sectarianism against his former PSNI colleagues in the Tactical Support Group in March:

By Adam Kula, Belfast News Letter, May 24th, 2025

​I am the retired PSNI officer that is known as Sean who made serious allegations of sectarianism in an interview that was published in the Belfast Telegraph on March 8th, 2025.

I am deeply sorry to everyone I have hurt by making these allegations, all of which were untrue and did not in fact occur. This statement is not an excuse for why I made these allegations up, but an explanation and a heartfelt apology. I cannot turn the clock back, I wish I could, but I will try and make right what I did wrong.

Firstly, let me state that I am deeply sorry to all my former colleagues in the Blacks, (the name of the TSG I worked in for 15 years). My former colleagues, both serving and retired, were not just good police officers, there were outstanding police officers and wonderful human beings.

The allegations I made are all untrue. I am unequivocal about that. Nobody subjected me to sectarian abuse for wearing ash on my forehead.

Not once did I hear Catholic colleagues being referred to as ‘fenian ba**ards*. I never heard colleagues whistling the sash in corridors. I never heard or saw colleagues referring to nationalist politicians on TV as ‘fenians’.

I am deeply sorry that I claimed I had experienced sectarian abuse or witnessed sectarianism in the PSNI. I am also sorry that I alleged to the Chief Constable that I had ever experienced nuanced sectarianism in the PSNI.

The TSG I served in was a diverse group of men and women and I never saw or heard a single one of them speak in a sectarian way or engage in any bullying or unprofessional behaviour.

I am proud to say that I served in a team that treated colleagues and the public professionally, fairly and with humanity.

My former TSG colleagues also served bravely in situations that were dangerous and traumatic.

Policing is a vital part of any society, and I do not want to put anyone off from joining the PSNI.

However, policing has taken a toll on me and I was diagnosed with complex PTSD of a severe nature and medically retired from the PSNI.

I faced dissident republican threats and intimidation that left me a shadow of the person who joined the PSNI.

Being unwell has also made me vulnerable in ways upon which I do not wish to expand on publicly.

I need now to try and focus on my family and my health and I do not want to be contacted by anyone. I will contact those I need to speak with.

Once again, I wish to apologise to all the men and women of the PSNI, serving and retired, who have been hurt by my actions. I am also truly sorry that I misled the Belfast Telegraph and by extension the public.

I reached out, without prompting or suggestion to a former TSG colleague and Jon Burrows, because I wanted to make right what I did wrong and trust both of them to treat me fairly.

I have made this statement of my free will. In short, I retract without any equivocation the allegations of sectarianism that I made.

To my former colleagues, I say once again, I am so sorry and hope one day we can be friends again.

Chief Constable Jon Boutcher responds to statement from ‘Sean’

PSNI 24th  May 2025

All Northern Ireland

Chief Constable Jon Boutcher said today: “I want to acknowledge Sean’s courageous decision to issue this statement and I urge everyone to respect Sean’s plea for privacy. I was aware that Sean may provide a retraction but have deliberately waited for him to take this step before commenting.

“I have said publicly and very clearly to the Policing Board and reiterate again now, there was no sectarianism in this case. I am grateful to Sean for setting the record straight and for the dignity and professionalism displayed by his serving and retired colleagues during this challenging time. They are a credit to policing.

“After my meeting with Sean I described him as a decent man and his statement of retraction is nothing short of what I expected. To their huge credit the very colleagues Sean criticised also described him to me as a good and decent man. Those colleagues (retired and serving) behaved impeccably through this period and have demonstrated immense humility and generosity towards Sean. As I have already stated publicly, they have my full support.

“The PSNI will provide Sean with whatever welfare support he requires. He was clearly vulnerable and this was evident to me when I met him.”

https://www.psni.police.uk/latest-news/chief-constable-jon-boutcher-responds-statement-issued-retired-police-service-northern

Ex-PSNI officer retracts allegations of sectarianism made against former colleagues

Sean claimed he had been left broken by his experience of the PSNI - but has now retracted the allegations.

Staff reporter, Belfast Telegraph, May 24th, 2025

Today at 12:40

A former PSNI officer who claimed he was subjected to sectarianism by police colleagues has retracted his allegations.

The ex-officer, known publicly as 'Sean', admitted his claims were false. He has apologised to colleagues, and said being unwell has left him vulnerable.

His original allegations were reported by the Belfast Telegraph in March.

In a statement to the News Letter today, ‘Sean’ said: “I am deeply sorry to everyone I have hurt by making these allegations, all of which were untrue and did not in fact occur.

“This statement is not an excuse for why I made these allegations up, but an explanation and a heartfelt apology. I cannot turn the clock back, I wish I could, but I will try and make right what I did wrong.”

He added: “I wish to apologise to all the men and women of the PSNI, serving and retired, who have been hurt by my actions. I am also truly sorry that I misled the Belfast Telegraph and by extension the public.”

Chief Constable Jon Boutcher said he was grateful to ‘Sean’ for setting the record straight.

PSNI to provide ‘whatever welfare support he requires’

He said the PSNI will provide the former officer with whatever welfare support he requires.

Mr Boutcher said: “I want to acknowledge Sean’s courageous decision to issue this statement and I urge everyone to respect Sean’s plea for privacy.

“I was aware that Sean may provide a retraction but have deliberately waited for him to take this step before commenting.

“I have said publicly and very clearly to the Policing Board and reiterate again now, there was no sectarianism in this case.

“I am grateful to Sean for setting the record straight and for the dignity and professionalism displayed by his serving and retired colleagues during this challenging time. They are a credit to policing.

“After my meeting with Sean I described him as a decent man and his statement of retraction is nothing short of what I expected. To their huge credit the very colleagues Sean criticised also described him to me as a good and decent man.

“Those colleagues (retired and serving) behaved impeccably through this period and have demonstrated immense humility and generosity towards Sean.

"As I have already stated publicly, they have my full support.

“The PSNI will provide Sean with whatever welfare support he requires. He was clearly vulnerable and this was evident to me when I met him.”