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Taxi Driver involved in New Year's Household Massacre
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Author:  Brummie Cabbie [ Mon Jan 02, 2012 12:41 pm ]
Post subject:  Taxi Driver involved in New Year's Household Massacre
19-year old girl is sole survivor of New Year's Day massacre after man shoots dead partner and two other women, then himself
Firearms officers called to the scene late last night
Shotgun found next to man's body
One 19-year-old woman treated in hospital with gunshot wounds

Last updated at 11:26 AM on 2nd January 2012

Four members of the same family have been found shot dead in a horrific bloodbath on New Year's Day.

Michael Atherton Snr, a taxi driver, and Susan McGoldrick, as well as two other females, were found dead by armed police in a house in Horden, near Peterlee, Co Durham.

A 19-year-old woman was discovered nearby with gunshot wounds and was rushed to hospital. A shotgun is believed to have been found next to Mr Atherton's body.

Police are not looking for anyone else in connection with the deaths. It is thought that Mr Atherton and Ms McGoldrick were in a relationship.

Armed police were called at about 11.45pm last night after reports a number of people had been shot inside the semi-detached house at 9 Greenside Avenue.

The victims were named locally and their identities have not been officially confirmed by police. Mr Atherton is though to have been in his 40s.

The ages of the female victims have not been established, but the youngest is thought to have been in her teens.

The lone survivor, aged 19, was treated for minor shotgun wounds after she was found by officers at another home in the same street.

According to reports, she ran to a neighbouring property and it was the residents of that home who raised the alarm.

She has since been released from hospital after having shotgun pellets removed from her wrist and shoulder and is now helping police with their inquiries.

Martin Wallwork, a spokesman for Durham police, said the survivor was believed to be connected to the other people involved.

'The indications are this happened very very quickly. We had a call at 11.45 on Sunday night saying a number of people had been shot,' he said.

He added that although firearms officers were at the scene very quickly, all four people found inside the house were already dead.

One neighbour, who lives on the road, told local paper the Northern Echo: 'I was walking home from work at quarter past 12 last night and the first thing I saw was a guy running around covered in blood.

'He was shouting: "Someone's been shot in the head."

'I knew the family quite well. No-one can believe it's happened.'

Another neighbour said: 'We thought we heard fireworks last night, but when we woke up this morning we heard it was a shooting. It's horrific.'

Robert Bailey, 72, a long-standing resident of Greenside Avenue, spoke of his shock following the news.

He said he knew the people involved by sight only - and they had appeared 'normal, ordinary people'.

'There is shock. There is never any trouble here and we have been here for nearly 50 years,' he said.

Labour party ward councillor Paul Stradling said it was the most shocking incident he had come across in 30 years as a politician.

He said: 'I have had a few phone calls this morning asking if I was aware of it - it's terrible news.

'Greenside Avenue is normally a very quiet area of the village so it has shocked everybody.

'It's a typical North East village, quiet most of the time with a little bit of anti-social behaviour but crime levels are usually low.

'I will be out and about today and am waiting for further reports from the local police inspector.'

The area around the house has been cordoned off while police carry out a forensic examination of the crime scene.

It is expected to be some time before police are able to formally identify those who have died.

An incident room is being set up at police headquarters in Durham staffed by officers from the force's major crime team.

Source; http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... house.html
Author:  edders23 [ Mon Jan 02, 2012 4:45 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Taxi Driver involved in New Year's Household Massacre
So sad when something like this happens and the one girl that survived will be mentally scarred for life. I heard on the radio that he did have a gun license but to massacre his partner and her children makes you wonder if anyone is safe to possess a gun
Author:  Skull [ Mon Jan 02, 2012 5:21 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Taxi Driver involved in New Year's Household Massacre
I wonder what pushed him over the edge? :? I'm betting his partner was doing a bunk with another guy. :?
Author:  Nidge2 [ Tue Jan 03, 2012 7:51 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Taxi Driver involved in New Year's Household Massacre
Skull wrote:
I wonder what pushed him over the edge? :? I'm betting his partner was doing a bunk with another guy. :?



My thoughts to.
Author:  captain cab [ Tue Jan 03, 2012 8:43 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Taxi Driver involved in New Year's Household Massacre
I bet we'll see much use of this guy's occupation during the next few days and many questions asked as to why a taxi driver had 6 guns.

CC
Author:  wee eddie [ Tue Jan 03, 2012 10:45 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Taxi Driver involved in New Year's Household Massacre
I would question why anyone has 6 Guns!
Author:  captain cab [ Tue Jan 03, 2012 10:47 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Taxi Driver involved in New Year's Household Massacre
wee eddie wrote:
I would question why anyone has 6 Guns!


I used to have 2......I don't see the relevence, you don't need a driving license to own a car.

CC
Author:  cabby john [ Tue Jan 03, 2012 12:21 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Taxi Driver involved in New Year's Household Massacre
wee eddie wrote:
I would question why anyone has 6 Guns!


Around about 1983/4 I belonged to a shooting range.

When encouraged to go forward for my firearms license I was told to apply for six guns on the same license - basically you could have one to six pistols off of the same license, perhaps that never altered. For some strange reason if you wanted a shotgun it was a totally different license.

What I find very odd is that I was always led to believe that you could no longer hold weapons such as pistols in your home - however if you have a good reason i.e (a Farmer) shotguns are still allowed.
Author:  Nidge2 [ Tue Jan 03, 2012 8:54 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Taxi Driver involved in New Year's Household Massacre
wee eddie wrote:
I would question why anyone has 6 Guns!



I used to have a Firearms licence when I used to compete in Clay Pigeon shoots. A guy I know has 5 guns.
Author:  MR T [ Wed Jan 04, 2012 4:29 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Taxi Driver involved in New Year's Household Massacre
You don't need a licence to shoot a gun... you need a licence to own a gun ... there is no stipulation as to how many guns you can own... but all your guns must be held in a gun safe... so the gun safe regulates how many you can keep ... most of my family shoot.....
I don't think that there is anybody that enjoys shooting would argue.... that this particular man should have had his licence taken away... permanently... if as I have read in another report he had been suffering from depression....
Author:  captain cab [ Wed Jan 04, 2012 10:04 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Taxi Driver involved in New Year's Household Massacre
If this guy had threatened to kill himself in the past, and had his guns taken from him, I wonder if that should have had an affect on his PH drivers license?

CC
Author:  wannabeeahack [ Wed Jan 04, 2012 11:38 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Taxi Driver involved in New Year's Household Massacre
Quote:
Labour party ward councillor Paul Stradling said it was the most shocking incident he had come across in 30 years as a politician.


Whats it to to do with politics?
Author:  captain cab [ Sun Jan 08, 2012 11:41 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Taxi Driver involved in New Year's Household Massacre
Police 'called to killer's house'




Police were called to the home of Peterlee shotgun killer Michael Atherton four times in just two years over domestic violence incidents, a spokesman has said.


The taxi-driver murdered his partner Susan McGoldrick, her sister Alison Turnbull and her niece Tanya Turnbull before turning his shotgun on himself on New Year's Eve.

Durham Police said the couple who lived in Horden, Peterlee, had "a volatile relationship".

A police spokesman said: "After studying records going back a number of years, police today confirmed that between 2002 and 2004 police were called to a total of four domestic-related incidents at the house, none of which resulted in either party being charged with any offence.

"Two of the incidents resulted in an arrest; the first was in July 2002 when Mr Atherton was arrested to prevent a breach of the peace following an argument between him and Ms McGoldrick.

"And in April 2004 he also received a police caution for common assault on Ms McGoldrick after he returned home in an intoxicated state.

"Since then the only time police have been called to the home was the incident in September 2008 when Mr Atherton was alleged to have threatened to shoot himself. He denied this and after initially being arrested to prevent a breach of the peace he was released."

It was following that arrest that police seized his firearms for a number of weeks before returning them when he applied to have them back.

Assistant Chief Constable Michael Banks said: "As many people know, Mr Atherton and Ms McGoldrick had what might be described as a volatile relationship.

"However, I am satisfied that these incidents were dealt with appropriately at the time and apart from the incident referred to in 2008 police have not been called to the family home for more than seven years."

http://www.stamfordmercury.co.uk/news/p ... _1_3399590
Author:  gusmac [ Sun Jan 08, 2012 12:39 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Taxi Driver involved in New Year's Household Massacre
Quote:
in July 2002 when Mr Atherton was arrested to prevent a breach of the peace following an argument between him and Ms McGoldrick.....

....And in April 2004 he also received a police caution for common assault.....

...."Since then the only time police have been called to the home was the incident in September 2008 when Mr Atherton was alleged to have threatened to shoot himself. He denied this and after initially being arrested to prevent a breach of the peace he was released."


Quote:
It was following that arrest that police seized his firearms for a number of weeks before returning them when he applied to have them back.


So who thought this guy was stable enough to have a shotgun?
Author:  captain cab [ Sun Jan 08, 2012 1:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Taxi Driver involved in New Year's Household Massacre
gusmac wrote:

So who thought this guy was stable enough to have a shotgun?



Or PH license.

CC
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