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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Blinded PC David Rathband's family lose negligence case | Blinded PC David Rathband's family lose negligence case |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The family of PC David Rathband, who was shot and blinded by Raoul Moat, has lost a High Court negligence claim against Northumbria Police. | The family of PC David Rathband, who was shot and blinded by Raoul Moat, has lost a High Court negligence claim against Northumbria Police. |
| The officer was blasted in the face in July 2010, minutes after the gunman had threatened to target officers. | The officer was blasted in the face in July 2010, minutes after the gunman had threatened to target officers. |
| The case claimed those on patrol should have been warned they were in danger. | The case claimed those on patrol should have been warned they were in danger. |
| Dismissing the claim, the judge ruled that the family should pay the force's costs, with an interim payment of £100,000 due within 21 days. | Dismissing the claim, the judge ruled that the family should pay the force's costs, with an interim payment of £100,000 due within 21 days. |
| Latest updates on this story on North East Local Live. | Latest updates on this story on North East Local Live. |
| PC Rathband, orginally from Stafford, began the civil action before he took his own life in 2012, and it was continued by his brother and sister. | |
| They argued that he had been left in "harm's way" as he was on his own and was parked in a prominent spot. | |
| 'Cruelty and hatred' | |
| However Northumbria Police defended its response, saying attempts were being made to pinpoint the gunman's exact position. | However Northumbria Police defended its response, saying attempts were being made to pinpoint the gunman's exact position. |
| Passing judgement at Newcastle's Moot Hall, Mr Justice Males, described it as an "immensely sad case". | |
| He said: "Moat was a resourceful and determined criminal, well capable of carrying out his threat, who remained at large for some days after PC Rathband was shot. | |
| "Regardless of the issue of any warning to be vigilant, PC Rathband ... was desperately unlucky to be the victim of Moat's cruelty and hatred, but if it had not been him, it would probably have been somebody else." | |
| Neither PC Rathband's twin brother Darren nor his sister Debbie Essery were in court for the ruling. | |
| Afterwards they said in a statement that they were disappointed by the judgement: "Mistakes were made, policies and procedures have been changed, that fact remains. | |
| "The arrogance and insensitivity of Northumbria Police throughout has been cruel to say the least." |