Police restraint did not lead to death of man, coroner finds

By Jonathan McCambridge (Press Association)

The physical restraint by police officers of a man who suffered a stroke the following day did not lead or contribute to his death, a coroner has found.

However, coroner Maria Dougan said some aspects of the restraint of Jamie Wilson “fell below best practice”.

Mr Wilson was 33 when he died at Craigavon Hospital on May 7 2018, having suffered a stroke on May 1.

Ms Dougan said it had been a “very complex inquest”, pointing out Mr Wilson was involved in two interactions involving physical restraint by police in the days before his death.

Delivering her findings at Banbridge Courthouse, the coroner said police had attended his home in Corbet, Co Down, in the early hours of April 30 2018 following an alleged assault on his girlfriend.

While he was being taken to Banbridge PSNI station, the coroner said his behaviour became aggressive and he gripped a constable by the arm.

She said police had used a “reasonable and proportionate response”, but said a kick directed by another constable at Mr Wilson’s hand should not have been used.

The coroner said Mr Wilson had struck his head against the window of the police car during transport and this should have been communicated to the custody sergeant in Banbridge.

Ms Dougan said after they arrived at the police station, Mr Wilson “became aggressive and displayed an unacceptable level of violence”.

The coroner said Mr Wilson was restrained by a number of officers, placed in a prone position and fitted with handcuffs and leg restraints.

She said he was kept restrained for “longer than was necessary” after he was calmed down.

Later in the morning, Mr Wilson fell off his bed in his cell and was observed displaying “abnormal movements”.

The coroner found this seizure was a “separate and unrelated medical event” from the stroke he suffered more than 24 hours later.

She said police had enough information to “prompt an urgent hospital assessment”, but added it “would not on the balance of probabilities have altered the eventual outcome”.

Mr Wilson’s condition improved and he was released on bail in the afternoon.

However, the following day he was taken into Craigavon Area Hospital after suffering a stroke, where he died on May 7.

Ms Dougan said: “I find, as agreed by the pathology and neurological experts, that any trauma before, during or after police custody did not cause or contribute to the death.

“I find the restraint of the deceased did not cause or contribute to his death.”

She said the stroke he had suffered was in the context of “chronic alcohol and drug misuse, dehydration and associated risk factors”.

She said: “The deceased was described by those who knew him as a loving and loyal person, devoted to his family.

“He was a much loved father, son, brother and friend and had been seeking to improve his circumstances.”

The coroner passed on her condolences to the family.

The police actions in the case had previously been examined by the Police Ombudsman.

A file was sent to the Department of Public Prosecutions, which directed no criminal prosecution of police officers.

The inquest findings were delivered at Banbridge Courthouse