VIDEO: Police Ombudsman publishes report into Maghera man's death

The parents of a Maghera man who died while in police custody have said that they are ‘not confident’ that the PSNI have learnt their lesson following the publication of the Police Ombudsman report into their son’s death.

Paul Somerville died four days after sustaining serious head injuries when he fell from the rear of a moving police van at Church Street in the town on January 27, 2012.

He had been arrested at his home minutes earlier and was being taken to Maghaberry Prison when the incident happened.

A doctor from a nearby health centre attended to Paul before he was taken in an ambulance to Antrim Area Hospital, where he later died.

The incident was referred by police to the Police Ombudsman’s Office for independent investigation.

In a report issued by the Police Ombudsman last night, it stated that a forensic examination conducted as part of that investigation found that the van’s cell door was misaligned with its frame and that its latches did not always fully engage, even when the door was slammed shut.

It also found that a deadlock did not engage unless the key was turned anticlockwise through a full 90 degrees, even though a locking bolt could be seen moving as the key was turned.

The Police Ombudsman, Dr Michael Maguire, has since made a series of recommendations for improvements to such cell vans, and these have since been implemented by the PSNI.

Last night, Paul’s parents, Desmond and Gwen, said:  “We believe it is in the public interest to be aware that the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland can only make recommendations but the PSNI are not duty bound to take them on board or act upon them which begs the question, ‘to whom are the PSNI accountable?’"

See today's County Derry Post for more on this story. 

http://www.youtube.com/embed/5AIhy2HWvsE