A senior officer said his investigation team aimed to make sure ‘perpetrators will be held to account’.

But PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Davy Beck said there was no intelligence to suggest it was sanctioned by the organisation’s leadership.

Matthew Brogan, 29, from Drumbeg South in Craigavon, was sentenced to a total of 40 months, 20 of which will be spent on licence after his release.

The PSNI Deputy Chief Constable also told the Policing Board he had not provided a character reference for the leading loyalist.

NIE Networks has warned it could take up to 10 days for all properties to be reconnected.

Davy Beck, Ryan Henderson and Melanie Jones have all previously served as temporary ACCs in the force

Ms Ward’s body was found at her home on Melrose Street in Belfast on October 1.