Byrne exit shows weight of political pressure on Northern Ireland’s police

Row over high court ruling undermined chief constable's position after he had appeared to weather data leak crisis

• Northern Ireland police chief quits after series of controversies

In the end, it appears it was the politics of Northern Ireland that ended Simon Byrne's career as chief constable.

Nowhere outside the Metropolitan area in London is the job of policing subject to such scrutiny, criticism and political commentary.