PSNI's involvement with Strabane woman's fall still unclear according to Police Watchdog

by Gráinne Connolly

The Police Watchdog says there's no evidence to prove PSNI involvement in a fall, in which a woman from Strabane broke 12 ribs, her back and elbow. 

The woman, who also suffered respiratory failure, underwent surgery and required treatment in intensive care during a hospital stay of almost a month, suffered injuries at her home in December 2016. 

She claimed to have been pushed down the stairs by an officer who came to the house to arrest her son. 

However, the officer denied the claim, saying he had "tried to get past the woman on the stairs as her son fled from police" and any contact was accidental. 

The incident was investigated after the Police Ombudsman 'called himself in' to the case when details were referred to the Office by the PSNI in January 2017. 

A public complaint was also received. 

Investigators established that two PSNI Officers had called to the house looking for her son in relation to an assault and were told by the woman he wasn't there. 

However, after entering the property, they found the man hiding in a wardrobe upstairs. 

The officers also told investigators the woman was intoxicated, verbally abusive and had accompanied them upstairs during the search.

As the four made their way downstairs her son walked in front, followed immediately by one police officer with the woman and the officer she accused of pushing her, following behind.

When the man made a run for the open front door; the woman said the second officers then pushed her right shoulder causing her to fall. 

According to the police officer who disputed this, he said he shouted "move" whilst attempting to manoeuvre past her past her. 

He then claimed the woman leaned forward, at which stage it was obvious she was going to fall and he attempted to catch her. 

In witness statements to Ombudsman investigators, three paramedics who had been called to the scene said the woman was lying at the bottom of the stairs when they arrived.

One said she had claimed then that the officer had pushed her. All three described her as intoxicated and uncooperative.

Body worn video footage showed only the aftermath of the fall, with the woman lying at the bottom of the stairs accusing the officer of pushing her.

Police radio transmissions and a statement from the accompanying officer corroborated the officer’s account that he had tried to get past the woman when her son had fled and any contact was accidental.

The woman’s son confirmed that he had run out of the house when he seen the front door open.

Further investigations by Ombudsman staff including a scene visit and house to house enquiries failed to turn up any evidence to determine the exact circumstances of the fall.

With no evidential grounds to confirm either account the case was closed with no recommendation for disciplinary action.