Northern Ireland police officers travelling to their work are on duty, PSNI chief constable Matt Baggot said today after a policeman who had a leg blown off in a dissident attack was refused compensation.
Peadar Heffron suffered major injuries after a device planted by dissident republicans exploded under his car in Randalstown, Co Antrim, as he drove to work in January 2010.
It was reported by The Detail.tv website that Mr Heffron, who unsuccessfully sought industrial injury compensation, was denied because of regulations which effectively query whether he was on duty at the time of the attack.
"This is a private matter for Constable Heffron and it is not appropriate for us to comment at this time," the PSNI said in a statement. "However the Chief Constable supports the position that travelling to and from work constitutes being on duty."
The 35-year-old Catholic officer was captain of the PSNI's Gaelic football team and operated as an Irish language specialist for the force, which has sought to attract greater numbers of recruits from the nationalist community. The attempt on his life was seen not only as a murder bid but also as an effort to deter support for the cross-community PSNI.
The car bombing was condemned by all the main political parties, who labelled it as an attack on efforts to build a peaceful future. It is understood lawyers for the officer are pursuing the case.
The Police Federation, which represents members of the service, said it is to lobby Stormont. “What signal does this send out to officers in the PSNI who put their lives at risk every day?” asked federation chairman Terry Spence.
Mr Spence said he will write to Stormont’s Department for Social Development, which is ultimately responsible for the issue.
Mr Spence said all wounded officers received a salary while they recuperated ahead of their return to work. But others who sought industrial compensation to cope with the repercussions of life-changing injuries had suffered mixed fortunes.
Mr Spence argued that there appeared to be a lack of clarity and said it could yet be necessary for government to redraft the existing regulations.