The Police Ombudsman, Dr Michael Maguire, has concluded that police were justified in using Taser against a man who had barricaded himself in a bedroom and cut his wrists.
The incident happened in June 2010 in the Lisburn area, after police responded to reports that a man had been threatening his family and warning that he was going to harm himself.
A police armed response unit was tasked to the scene. Members looked through a window above the bedroom door and noticed a large pool of blood beside the man. Officers then forced their way into the room and used Taser to prevent any further harm being committed.
The man was detained and treated by an ambulance crew, before being taken to Lagan Valley Hospital for further treatment.
Witnesses including the mans partner provided consistent accounts of what had happened.
As with all discharges of police firearms, the incident was referred by the Chief Constable to the Police Ombudsman’s Office for independent investigation.
Accounts were obtained from all available witnesses, including the man’s partner, who provided consistent accounts of what had happened.
Police records were examined and these revealed that the use of Taser had been properly authorised.
The electronic memory of the Taser was also analysed and the information was consistent with the account of the officer who had used the weapon. Training records confirmed that he was properly trained in the use of Taser.
Dr Maguire concluded that the use of Taser in the circumstances had been “lawful, proportionate and necessary.”