edders23 wrote:
Probably the same reason as all the others our LO has a stock answer to that
" can't deny someone the right to work"
" can't deny someone the right to work"
Yeah - no matter how dereanged they are.
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| How was this man a licensed driver? http://www.taxi-driver.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=20717 |
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| Author: | captain cab [ Mon Nov 19, 2012 10:21 am ] |
| Post subject: | How was this man a licensed driver? |
Watchdog criticises police handling of Horden killer Michael Atherton A LEAKED report by the police watchdog has branded officers' handing of killer Michael Atherton as "inexcusable" and "unacceptable". The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has criticised the decision to hand back guns to the taxi driver, who massacred three women in a New Year’s Day killing spree, despite earlier threats to shoot himself. Atherton, 42, opened fire on his 47-year-old partner Susan McGoldrick, her sister Alison Turnbull, 44, and her niece Tanya Turnbull, 24, before taking his own life on January 1 this year. The killings horrified residents of Horden, near Peterlee in County Durham, who learned of the murders when Susan’s wounded daughter Laura fled into the village after escaping through a window. In a damning report, the IPCC criticises the force’s handling of Atherton’s firearms certificate. The report reveals how officers seized six guns from Atherton in 2008 when he had threatened “shoot his own head off” during a drunken incident at the family home. Yet his deadly arsenal was returned to him just six weeks later with a warning they would be confiscated if he behaved “irresponsibly”. Among the guns was the weapon he used to gun down his partner’s family. A note stuck to Atherton’s police file when he applied for his licence back also read: “4 domestics – last one 24/4/04 . . . . would like to refuse – have we sufficient info – refuse re public safety.” While the watchdog has not recommended criminal or disciplinary action they found there was no “meaningful review” of Atherton’s licences for three rifles and three shotguns by police after the 2008 incident and no record of why the decision was made. Student Laura, who had been studying musical theatre at Newcastle College, was injured in the spray of bullets as Atherton gunned down her mother. Wounded, she escaped with her boyfriend Myren Grant, then 19, through her bedroom window. After learning of the IPCC findings, she said: “I know I’m not Einstein or anything (but) if a man tried to commit suicide, or pretended to, why would you give a man a gun back like that with a family in the house?” Durham’s Deputy Chief Constable Michael Banks said he was aware the bereaved families had been updated by the police watchdog. He confirmed the commission had recommended that there were no criminal or misconduct cases to answer for any member of Durham Constabulary. Mr Banks said: “At the conclusion of the inquest, Durham Constabulary will respond in full to all of the issues raised in the IPCC’s report. “Since the tragic events in January, we have carried out a full review of policy and procedures. “It would be wholly inappropriate to comment further on the outcome of an investigation in advance of the official publication of the findings, and the coroner’s inquest. “We will not be making any further comment at this time.” The IPCC is expected to officially release its findings to the public following the conclusion of the inquests into the four deaths. Until then, the organisation will not comment further on the issue. Taxi driver Atherton went on his deadly rampage at the family home at Greenside Avenue after an argument broke out when the women returned home from an evening drinking in the village at 11.45pm. Allegedly going after supermarket worker Susan first, he then gunned down Alison and Avon representative Tanya, both from Blackhall Colliery. Atherton and Susan’s son Michael junior, 17, was also among the survivors after escaping unhurt. Mr Banks said days after the incident that they had been called to the address to deal with a man’s threats to self-harm several years earlier. Bobby Turnbull, 23, the son of Alison and brother of Tanya, is now fighting to tighten gun licensing laws. Alongside Easington MP Grahame Morris and Andrew Foster, whose brother shot and killed his family in Shropshire, Bobby wants better communication between medical professionals and police in their rules on gun ownership. They hope people with a criminal past, a history of mental instability and domestic violence will be identified to police straight away. Bobby’s uncle, and Susan and Alison’s brother, Norman Hardman, of Hesleden, has previously described the killings as a ‘senseless waste of life’ with nothing to suggest an incident like that would have happened. Inside Out North East & Cumbria has more from the report on BBC One tonight at 7.30pm. Read more: Journal Live http://www.journallive.co.uk/north-east ... z2CetiEVVb |
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| Author: | edders23 [ Mon Nov 19, 2012 12:38 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: How was this man a licensed driver? |
Probably the same reason as all the others our LO has a stock answer to that " can't deny someone the right to work" |
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| Author: | captain cab [ Mon Nov 19, 2012 12:52 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: How was this man a licensed driver? |
edders23 wrote: Probably the same reason as all the others our LO has a stock answer to that " can't deny someone the right to work" Yeah - no matter how dereanged they are.
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| Author: | Skull [ Mon Nov 19, 2012 3:14 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: How was this man a licensed driver? |
I think the police might have made it easy for him, but if he was hell-bent on his own destruction and that of others. It's unlikely anyone could have stopped him.  Although, there does seem to be a lot of lunatics driving taxis these days. In fact, there's a guy I know, twenty-six years in the game, and he's as mad as a bag 'o' ferrets. He actually believes successful people drive taxis.  
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