At around 10.20pm on 7 April 2002 two police officers attended an old quarry yard at Church Road, Holywood, in response to an alarm activation. The yard contains buildings used to store production equipment.
Three people were seen running off from the premises: one was apprehended. As the officers tried to deal with him a large dog circled them aggressively, as if about to attack. An officer shouted and tried to kick at the dog and scare it off with his torch, but when this failed he fired two shots at it.
He missed, and the dog ran off apparently unhurt while the person who had been stopped by police managed to escape and ran off.
Outcome of investigation:
The Police Ombudsman's Executive Director David Wood concluded that the use of the personal protection weapon was justified in the circumstances.
The investigation established that at the time of the discharge the officer was concerned that he, his colleague or the suspect male could suffer a serious injury. The officer had considered and exhausted other options open to him in the situation; he took into consideration the consequences of his actions and fired the weapon in such a way as to put no one at risk. The officer's training was also found to be up-to-date.
"There is no evidence to support any criminal offence nor justify any disciplinary proceedings," said Mr Wood.