Police treatment of a man who became unresponsive in Coleraine was appropriate

Police Ombudsman’s Office has found that police did not fail to properly care for a drunk man who required urgent hospital treatment

Ombudsman Dr Michael Maguire found that the man had been awake when he arrived in custody, and concluded it had not been unreasonable for officers to bring him to the police station, rather than taking him immediately to hospital for treatment.

The incident in question happened at Coleraine police station in June 2015.  The man was arrested on suspicion of common assault and breach of bail conditions.

Police guidelines state that 'drunk and 'incapable' people are supposed to be taken to hospital rather than into police custody.  However, the man was said to be responsive in the car on his way to the station.

The police officer who dealt with the incident said that the man had 'drifted in and out of sleep' on his way to the station and had tried to get out of the car when they were outside the station.  The man also walked several steps unaided, before requiring assistance.

Q Radio's Richard O'Reilly:

Furthermore, the ombudsman's report said that CCTV footage showed the man being placed by police staff into the recovery position.  Footage also shows the custody officer asking the two officers who brought him in when he had last been responsive, to which they replied that he had just been talking in the car.

Dr Maguire ruled that there was no misconduct on the part of the police, saying that the man was both conscious and capable upon his arrival at the station.  He added that appropriate medical care was also provided, after the man became unresponsive.

The man’s condition improved at hospital and he was later returned to police custody. When contacted by a Police Ombudsman investigator, he said he had no recollection of being arrested or being in custody prior to waking up in the hospital.