Commissioner for Investigations identified to lead ICRIR work 

Peter Sheridan CBE has today been identified as the new Commissioner for Investigations to join the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR).    

Peter Sheridan has served for the last 15 years as the CEO of Cooperation Ireland – a peace-building organisation working to address the legacy of the past and promote reconciliation. In this role Peter has personally fostered improved relationships between the United Kingdom and Ireland. He was instrumental in arranging the meeting between the late Queen and the then Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuiness in 2012. Peter was awarded a CBE in the 2023 Birthday Honours for services to peace-building.

From 2003 to 2008, Peter served as Assistant Chief Constable with the PSNI, having spent 32 years policing in Northern Ireland, with frontline and neighbourhood policing experience. As Assistant Chief Constable he was responsible for the Crime Operations Department, which included serious and organised crime and terrorism investigations.

Peter has a Master’s Degree in Criminology and Police Management from Cambridge University and attended the FBI College in Quantico Washington DC as one of 25 international students to study law enforcement leadership.

Peter Sheridan said: “I’ve spent the last 15 years working for an organisation that is dedicated to bringing peace and reconciliation to Northern Ireland – and before this, a substantial period of my career working to deliver law and order in our community. I am absolutely committed to carrying out this role without fear or favour and I fully expect everyone to hold me accountable to do this.”

“There is nothing I want more than to see people given the information and closure they need, using the full range of powers and tools that the Commission will be able to bring to this work, so that we can all move forward together. We may never forget the past, but I hope we will be able to focus on building an inspiring future together for Northern Ireland, for the sake of future generations.” 

Chief Commissioner-designate Sir Declan Morgan said: “I’m delighted that this significant milestone has been reached in our work to establish the Commission. Peter brings a unique combination of professional investigative experience, a thorough appreciation of our context and an unrivalled track record of reaching across all aspect as of our community.” 

Draft governance structures for comment 

Draft governance structures have today been set out to show how the Commission could be organised. These would be adopted once the Commission is established, including: 

• How the Board and Committees will be organised and their proposed terms of reference; 
• An Investigation Assurance Group which will provide expert insight and challenge to the Commission’s approach to investigations and reviews; 
• The Commission’s proposed approach to managing potential conflicts of interest. 

These are being published in draft so that interested parties may comment on them. The Board of the new Commission will then consider these drafts to modify or adopt when the ICRIR is formally established. 

Investigation Assurance Group adopted

The Commission will adopt an Investigation Assurance Group, based on the good practice from Operation Kenova. Following the Kenova model, pioneered by Jon Boutcher, the Group will provide expert insight to assist the Commissioner for Investigations put in place methodologies and will challenge and scrutinise the Commission’s framework for handling cases, especially where it is important there is proper independence of decision making. An independent Chair will be sought and they will play a role in forming the Group, drawing from experienced senior police officers, human rights law experts and more widely relevant experience.

The new Commissioner for Investigations is expected to start work in December, once prior commitments are completed. He will be supporting the Chief Commissioner-designate engaging with interested groups to ensure input from as wide a range of views as possible, as the Commission establishes its policies and procedures ahead of opening for requests from next summer.