Police are facing criticism over refusing to release a mugshot of a man who murdered his wife by setting her alight in a car after throwing petrol over her.
The PSNI said it served "no policing purpose" to issue a custody image of Thomas Rainey, who was jailed for a minimum of 18 years for Katrina Rainey's murder.
It happened at the family home when the mother-of-six was leaving for work and Rainey opened her car door, covered her with petrol and then set her on fire.
Read more: Katrina Rainey: Husband sentenced for murder of wife he doused in petrol and set alight
Mrs Rainey, 53, was able to relay details of the attack in October 2021 to emergency services before she was taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital where she later died.
She told police she had been to see a solicitor and she believed the attack was her husband's retaliation to a pending divorce.
Mrs Rainey also told police she was unable to get out of the car due to her seatbelt being fastened so she kept "hitting the horn and screaming".
As a result of the brutal attack 90% of Mrs Rainey's body was covered with burns.
Rainey, 61, of Quarry Road in Knockloughrim, Co Derry, pleaded guilty to the murder and was sentenced on Wednesday.
Belfast Live asked the PSNI, which had issued a photo of Mrs Rainey, to also provide a custody image of the defendant.
It was pointed out how releasing such images is common practice for police services following convictions for such serious crimes in other UK jurisdictions.
But a PSNI spokeswoman said: "Unlike in other jurisdictions, we do not have permission to issue custody images of defendants as there is no policing purpose."
The PSNI was asked to explain who needed to grant "permission" and why there was "no policing purpose" to release an image, but no further response was given.
Guidance from the National Police Chiefs' Council on releasing images to the media says it is an "operational decision for the senior investigating officer".
The PSNI's refusal came only a day after the launch of a consultation on a Stormont strategy for tackling violence against women and girls.
Alliance South Antrim MLA John Blair called for the PSNI to "urgently" explain its position and said he will raise the matter with the Policing Board.
He said: "The PSNI need to clarify why they are responding differently than other policing services in relation to sharing information and images of those found guilty of serious and violent crimes. We urgently need some rationale offered.
"I have tabled a question, through the Policing Board, to the Chief Constable requesting a full explanation of the decision not to release information requested following a high-profile murder case in which a guilty verdict was reached."
The PSNI has faced criticism in the past for refusing to release mugshots of people convicted of serious crimes.
In 2016 it only issued a custody image of a jailed drunk driver who killed Co Tyrone teenager Enda Dolan following criticism from the victim's family.
TUV leader Jim Allister said: "The decision of the PSNI to refuse to release a photo of Thomas Rainey deserves a much fuller explanation.
"It isn't good enough to simply say that there is 'no policing purpose'. In fact, one could argue that in the interests of illustrating that someone was held accountable for this particularly horrific murder it is positively in the interests of the police to release an image of Thomas Rainey.
"With UK-wide guidance on the issue making it clear that this is matter within the discretion of the PSNI and flying in the face of multiple examples both on the mainland and here in Northern Ireland, I think it is time for the police to revisit the issue."
A mental health assessment after his arrest found Rainey was suffering from a depressive disorder of moderate severity, but the court stated this was not so severe as to prevent him from exercising self-control or understanding his actions.
Belfast Crown Court heard the couple's six-year-old daughter had died in an accident on their farm a number of years ago, which Rainey felt some level of personal responsibility for.
The defence put forward that Rainey had no previous history of domestic abuse, but Mr Justice O'Hara stated during sentencing "the murder of a wife who is seeking a divorce is in itself a definitive act of domestic violence".
Sentencing Rainey to a minimum of 18 years in prison, the judge said that "given the horror of what he did to his wife it is the least he deserves".
PSNI Detective Inspector Hazel Miller said Mrs Rainey was a "caring and loving mother".
Speaking outside court, she said the victim's children and wider family circle have experienced "unimaginable grief and anguish".
"They are still trying to come to terms with losing their loved one in such horrific circumstances," she said.
For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.
