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>Ex-RUC man to head justice committee >Posted on March 4, 2008 at 05:43:28 AM by Justice then >peace > >Ex-RUC man to head justice committee > >A former Royal Ulster Constabulary officer is set to >take charge of a Northern Ireland Assembly committee >tasked with reporting on the transfer of policing and >justice powers, it emerged tonight. > >Democratic Unionist sources confirmed Jimmy Spratt, >who also served as a chairman of the Police >Federation, has been tabled with the Stormont >authorities to replace Lagan Valley MP Jeffrey >Donaldson as the chair of the Assembly and Executive >Review Committee. > >The committee is due to report back to the Assembly >next week on the mechanics of the devolution of >policing and justice and is expected to say the >British government's May deadline for transferring the >powers cannot be achieved. > >However the DUP's decision to nominate Mr Spratt also >came amid signs of discontent in the party ranks over >the appointment of Ian Paisley Junior to the Northern >Ireland Policing Board. > >Mr Spratt was a policeman for 30 years, serving in >Belfast and Londonderry and as a member of the close >protection unit to Northern Ireland Office ministers, >MPs and Chief Constables. > >In 2005 he was chosen to run for the DUP in South >Belfast in the General Election and missed out on >capturing the seat which the nationalist SDLP's Dr >Alasdair McDonnell won with a 1,235 majority over him. >Two years later he captured an Assembly seat. > >On Friday night Ian Paisley Junior, who formally stood >down as a junior minister in the Stormont Executive >last week following concerns over his links to a >property developer, confirmed he would be rejoining >the Policing Board which he served on between 2001 and >2007. > >Ulster Unionist leader Sir Reg Empey claimed the >appointment of the North Antrim MLA showed an arrogant >disregard by the DUP for public opinion. > >A source said: "There is considerable anger over the >way Ian Junior was appointed - the manner in which the >news broke. > >"MLAs were also annoyed by suggestions from him that >somehow his appointment would ensure Sinn Fein would >not be able to run rings around the Ulster Unionists >on the board - that was seen as an implicit criticism >of his DUP colleagues. > >"The fact is this is not helping the mood of the >party. We would have hoped that after Ian Junior >stepped down there would be a period of reflection. >"Instead his appointment has only exacerbated things. >It could also have a knock-on effect for his father." > >Speculation has been mounting in recent weeks that >senior DUP members have been working on a plan for the >Rev Ian Paisley to stand down soon as Northern Ireland >First Minister and party leader. Mr Paisley is due to >turn 82 next month.

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