A TRIPLE killer’s history of domestic violence should have led to a refusal of a gun licence, a firearms expert testified yesterday.
Taxi driver Michael Atherton, 42, shot dead his partner Susan McGoldrick, 47, Alison Turnbull, 44, and Tanya Turnbull, 24, in the Horden New Year’s Day shootings, before shooting himself in the head.
At an inquest into the four deaths held at Crook Civic Centre in County Durham, Mark Groothuis, who has been a licensing manager for 20 years with Hampshire Police, said Atherton’s four incidents of domestic violence incidents, dating back to 2004, were reasonable grounds for not granting a licence.
Despite having a history of domestic violence, Atherton legally owned six weapons, including three shotguns.
Giving evidence at the hearing, which is expected to finish on Friday, Mr Groothuis said: “We are very robust on domestic violence. Here, there had been four incidents with a caution.
“From my point of view, it wouldn’t have been a borderline case. We would have refused.”
Atherton had his guns removed in September 2008 after armed officers were sent to his home in Horden, County Durham, when he “threatened to shoot his head off” when he was drunk.
His son, Michael, was instructed by call handlers at the force’s command room to go upstairs and get the key to the gun cabinet, an inquest heard.
Giving evidence at the hearing, former Chief Superintendent Ian MacDonald said: “My understanding was that there was a call from the address and there had been a dispute involving a number of people and that Mr Atherton had made some remark that he was going upstairs to ‘blow his head off’.
“My understanding was that the member of the family on the phone was told to go and get the key.”
Officers then removed the guns from the house, along with Atherton’s shotgun licence. However, police failed to remove Atherton’s firearms licence, meaning he could have been able to obtain more guns.
He was arrested for a breach of the peace and the next day denied making any comments about shooting himself. He was released without charge.
Despite this incident, Mr MacDonald made a decision to give Atherton his guns back, with a stern warning letter.
Mr MacDonald told the hearing he wrote to Atherton in the light of the threat to self-harm, warning him about his future conduct. One paragraph in the letter stated “irresponsible, irrational or uncontrollable behaviour“ would lead to a revocation.
Coroner Andrew Tweddle asked: “What about domestic violence? Would that be irresponsible, irrational or uncontrollable?”
Mr MacDonald replied: “That was all three of those things, sir.”
Earlier, Mr MacDonald’s predecessor, Chief Superintendent Carole Thompson-Young, said Atherton was not refused a firearms licence, as legal advice stated a history of domestic violence alone was not a good enough reason.
She also told the hearing that she had no formal training when she was first appointed. Mr Tweddle suggested that the members of the team were regulated on a “DIY” basis with little help from others. The inquest continues.
