Violence broke out in the vicinity of a Loyalist bonfire on Corcrain Road, Portadown, on the evening of June 26, 2001.
Police attended the area when Loyalists were reported to be throwing stones and fireworks over the peace line into the Nationalist Obins Drive area. Two petrol bombs were also reported as having been thrown into Obins Drive.
At around 10.20pm a crowd of around 250 people had gathered at Hampton Court, some of whom were throwing petrol bombs, stones, metal spikes and fireworks at the police.
Subsequently, two petrol bombs landed near a police vehicle but failed to ignite. This left the vehicle and a number of police officers standing in a pool of petrol, and it was clear that if the petrol ignited there would be a risk of serious injury to the officers.
A Police Inspector authorised the discharge of baton rounds, and a verbal warning was shouted to the crowd. An officer discharged one baton round at a masked man lighting a petrol bomb, missing him.
The rioting subsided after police discussions with community leaders, and no further baton rounds were discharged.
During their investigation of the incident, Police Ombudsman investigators reviewed police documentation including notebook entries, video evidence, police radio transmissions and journal entries.
Outcome of investigation:
The Police Ombudsman concluded that the police were at serious risk of injury during the incident. The discharge of the baton round was fully justified and proportionate, as were the authorisation and directions given. The baton gunner was found to be properly trained and authorised in the use of the gun, and its deployment and use was fully in accordance with the relevant RUC/PSNI and ACPO (Association of Chief Police Officers) guidance.