New head of North policing board appointed
The man who organised George Best’s funeral was today appointed as the new chief executive of the Northern Ireland Policing Board.
Adrian Donaldson was in charge at Castlereagh borough council when thousands of people packed into the Stormont estate to bid farewell to the footballing legend in December 2005.
The former council chief executive will take on the role at the PSNI’s independent monitoring body. replacing Trevor Reaney, who left earlier this year to become director general of the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Board chairman Desmond Rea said he was delighted Mr Donaldson was joining them.
“The Board is very pleased that Mr Donaldson has accepted the offer to become its new chief executive,” he said.
“Following a rigorous selection procedure he was appointed after successful interview from amongst a number of able and competent candidates.”
Best, who was made a freeman of Castlereagh in 2002, was brought up in the east Belfast borough.
In the wake of the Manchester United star’s death, his family asked Mr Donaldson to help them organise what turned out to be one of the biggest funerals yet held in the region.
At the board, Mr Donaldson will head a 60-strong team supporting the work of the appointed independent and political members. He will take up the post in the New Year.
