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Marian Cree, Patrick Nelson and Thomas O’Reilly were appointed by justice minister Naomi Long following a public appointment competition.

Ms Cree is currently the legal services oversight commissioner for Northern Ireland and recently finished a three-year term on the Parades Commission. She previously established and led the Competition and Markets Authority’s first Northern Ireland office.

Mr Nelson has been CEO of the Irish Football Association since 2009 and is also a director of the International Football Association Board (IFAB), which is responsible for the laws of the game. He previously worked in the global payment cards industry.

Mr O’Reilly has held a number of senior roles in public service, including deputy permanent secretary in the Department of Education and the Department of Communities. He was CEO of the Social Security Agency for six years.

Mrs Long said: “I am delighted to welcome Marian, Patrick and Thomas to the Northern Ireland Policing Board. Collectively, they will bring with them a wealth of valuable experience, knowledge, and unique insights to the Board.

“This will further enhance the Board’s work in securing an effective and efficient police service. Members also play a vital role in holding the Chief Constable to account for the delivery of policing.

“Over the past year, policing has been impacted by a number of significant incidents. Rebuilding public confidence in policing must be the Board’s priority and I look forward to working with the Board towards that goal.”

She added: “I thank those members whose terms concluded on 31 March 2024, including the chair, Deirdre Toner, and vice-chair, Edgar Jardine — along with Dr Janet Gray MBE for their support, years of service and valuable contributions they have made to policing in Northern Ireland. I wish them well for the future.”