A senior Ulster Unionist today expressed reservations about the appointment of Metropolitan police officer Mr Hugh Orde as Northern Ireland's Chief Constable.
"It is a controversial decision and indeed, may be somewhat political" UUP peer Lord Kilclooney - formally known as Mr John Taylor - observed.
"It seems to me that independent members of the board have sided with the SDLP in this appointment."
Lord Kilcloney, a member of the police board, expressed concern on BBC Radio Ulster after Deputy Assistant Commissioner Orde fought off competition from two senior Police Service of Northern Ireland officers, Mr Alan McQuillan and Mr Chris Albiston, to land the £130,000-a-year job.
He will now face a number of challenges in Britain's toughest policing job - including ensuring the Omagh bomb investigation puts its controversy behind it, investigating the Castlereagh police station break-in, and dealing with paramilitary activity and sectarian violence.
Mr Orde had been running an inquiry into allegations security forces colluded with loyalist paramilitaries to murder Belfast lawyer Pat Finucane.
PA