Orde cleared in NI special branch row

Mr Lowry, who headed the operation against a suspected IRA spy-ring inside British government offices at Stormont, claimed he was sacrificed to appease republicans.

But even though Mrs O’Loan’s investigators are understood to have identified a break-down over how disciplinary action against the Special Branch boss was handled, Mr Orde has escaped blame.

One source said: “The Chief Constable has been cleared of any wrong-doing.

“There may have been mistakes made, but they were made by other people. He did not bow to Northern Ireland Office or MI5 demands to get rid of Bill Lowry.”

Mr Lowry stood down weeks after the alleged espionage plot led to the collapse of the Stormont power-sharing regime last October.

He had just been hauled before his superiors and reprimanded for an interview he gave in which it was claimed sensitive information was disclosed.

In a letter of complaint to the Northern Ireland Policing Board, Mr Lowry claimed he was betrayed and humiliated after a phone call was made from London.

His removal was ordered by MI5 to satisfy demands by republicans incensed by the suspension of the devolved Assembly, it was claimed.

Mr Orde categorically denied coming under any pressure to get rid of him.

As the row intensified, board chairman Professor Desmond Rea called in the Police Ombudsman to examine the allegations.

Mrs O’Loan and her chief investigator, Dave Wood, are due to report their findings to the 19-member body at a private meeting on Wednesday.

A source close to the inquiry added: “There was a failure to inform the Chief Constable of the circumstances around discipline taken against Bill.

“Management was poor, but the report will not unearth anything more sinister.”