Peter Corrigan

Belfast firm Phoenix Law said its client Sean O’Reilly was confused by the force’s appeal for assistance in identifying two suspects while releasing CCTV images with their faces blurred.

Mr O’Reilly was shot twice while sitting in his taxi in west Belfast on 23 February 2025. He survived after surgery to remove a bullet from his collarbone and repair a damaged nerve in his arm.

Peter Corrigan, director at Phoenix Law, said: “We have serious concerns around the investigation into our client’s attempted murder. This is just the latest unusual occurrence in this investigation.

“We see no good reason why the PSNI would ask for help in identifying suspects and at the same time take steps to pixelate the faces of the suspects.

“One has to question the motive behind this and who the PSNI are seeking to protect.

“We will now add this to a long list of complaints already made to the Police Ombudsman in relation to the handling of the case.”

A spokesperson for the PSNI told the BBC that the pixelation had been “purposefully applied in order to prevent potential misidentification or retribution”.

“Instead, it is hoped that both images, backed by the reward from Crimestoppers, will encourage anyone with information to get in touch using the appropriate channels,” they added.

“Detectives have made a particular ask, and would reiterate their appeal, to anyone with CCTV to check for similar images that may have been captured from the morning of Sunday 23 February.”