Police apology over response to armed raid
Family believed they would be executed
Police have apologised for refusing to respond immediately to a Derry family’s frantic pleas for help as armed gunmen threatened to execute them.
Three masked men burst into the Shantallow home of Ciaran Mitchell, Karen Logue and her five year-old son Daniel at around 11.30pm on Wednesday.
PSNI Chief Constable Matt Baggott yesterday pledged to Sinn Féin MLA and Policing Board member Martina Anderson that he would “personally examine” his officer’s inaction.
And the police chief for the Derry area, Chief Superintendent Stephen Martin admitted he was sorry for his officer’s failure respond immediately to the Slievemore Park raid.
However, the family remained furious last night, claiming their lives were put at risk by the inaction of the PSNI. Mr Mitchell said he believed it was a case of mistaken identity.
Speaking to the ‘Journal’, Ms Logue relived the horror of the “terrifying” attack during which two of the raiders pointed hand guns at her child before making their getaway.
“I thought they were going to kill us. They kept shouting get down on the ground, we’re going to execute you. Two of them pointed handguns at Daniel before leaving.”
However, within 15 minutes the gang returned to the house, although the couple and a friend, Ciara McElhinney, who was visiting them when the raid happened, had escaped. They hid behind parked cars while the child fled to the safety of a neighbouring property.
Mr Mitchell said: “I was on the phone to the police and hiding behind a car when they came back into the house. I told the police that they said they would execute us and the sergeant said that officers would not be coming out. He said we should go to the station – it was disgraceful. I was watching men with guns running around our house threatening to kill us and the police would do nothing to help.”
Ms McElhinney, who dialled 999 minutes earlier, said she was met with a similar response from police.
Mr Mitchell said he is to complain to the Police Ombudsman. SDLP Councillor Shaun Gallagher said he too is to file a complaint on the matter. “There are serious questions which need to be answered by the police as to why they did not respond,” he said.
Following talks with the Chief Constable, Ms Anderson said: “Clearly, the PSNI got it badly wrong”.
G District Commander, Chief Superintendent Stephen Martin, apologised for the lack of response. He said his officers reacted cautiously “due to the significant threat from terrorists”.
“We always have to establish the circumstances and authenticity of any call and I am sorry that the community feels let down but I have to consider the security of my officers when sending them out to any scene.”
