A man who had cut his throat and was threatening to kill himself, was prevented from causing further self-harm when a police officer used a Taser to help restrain him.
That is the finding of a Police Ombudsman investigation into an incident at a house in Newtownabbey in December 2011.
Police had received a 999 call that the man (Man A) had a knife and rope and was threatening to harm himself.
A police Armed Response Vehicle, containing three officers, was tasked in response. Two officers entered by the front door of the house, while another went in via a rear door. A relative of Man A told them he was in a downstairs bedroom.
The relative led two officers to the bedroom and entered the room first, followed by two officers. As they did so, Man A put a knife to his throat and shouted: “I’m going to kill myself.”
One of the officers then pulled Man A’s relative out of the way and fired the Taser. Despite being struck by the barbs from the weapon, Man A managed to hold on to the knife.
Fearing that a second discharge would be necessary, the officer reloaded the weapon. However, there proved to be no need to use it again as, after some negotiation, Man A threw the knife onto a bed. Officers were then able to restrain and handcuff him.
He was subsequently arrested for breach of an Anti-Social Behaviour Order and taken to Antrim Area Hospital for treatment to minor injuries.
All discharges of police firearms in Northern Ireland, including Tasers, are subject to independent investigation by the Police Ombudsman’s Office.
Investigators obtained accounts of what had happened from the officers who had been involved, as well as from Man A’s relative, who said he was satisfied with the actions taken by police. He also recalled that the officers had shouted warnings and had asked Man A to drop the knife before using the Taser.
The officer who discharged the weapon said Man A’s neck was already bleeding before he fired the Taser, the barbs from which struck the target on the chest.
He said he and his colleagues then provided first aid and removed the barbs before Man A was examined by paramedics and taken to hospital by ambulance.
Examination of police records showed that the officer who fired the Taser had been properly trained and authorised to use the weapon. The Taser and ammunition used was also found to have been properly signed out and accounted for.
Having assessed the evidence, the Police Ombudsman, Dr Michael Maguire, concluded that the use of Taser during the incident had been legal, proportionate and necessary in the circumstances, and in compliance with all relevant police guidelines.