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Victims' protection 'inadequate' Police sorry over gangland murder
(30 minutes later)
A government adviser said protection offered to a couple who were killed in an gangland execution was "inadequate". Nottinghamshire Police has made a public apology to the family of a couple killed in a gangland execution.
John and Joan Stirland were killed in a revenge attack in Lincolnshire in 2004 organised by crime boss Colin Gunn. John and Joan Stirland were shot in a revenge attack in Lincolnshire in 2004 organised by crime boss Colin Gunn.
Nicholas Gargan, Deputy Chief Constable of the National Policing Improvement Agency, told the inquest there had been failings in support offered to them. Assistant Chief Constable Sue Fish issued the apology as she gave evidence at an inquest into the Stirlands' deaths at Lincoln Crown Court.
Jurors at Lincoln Crown Court have been asked to consider if police failed to properly protect the couple. Jurors have been asked to consider if police failed to properly protect the couple.
'Beleaguered' force 'Inadequate' protection
ACC Fish said the force was very sorry that Mr and Mrs Stirland had met their deaths in such a "cruel and untimely" way.
She said the force wanted to convey its condolences to Mr and Mrs Stirland's family and added it had not been able to apologise before because of legal proceedings.
The Stirlands' bodies were found by police at their home at Trusthorpe, Lincolnshire, in August 2004.The Stirlands' bodies were found by police at their home at Trusthorpe, Lincolnshire, in August 2004.
They were killed after Mrs Stirland's son Michael O'Brien killed Marvyn Bradshaw, a friend of Colin Gunn's nephew Jamie Gunn, outside a Nottingham pub in August 2003.They were killed after Mrs Stirland's son Michael O'Brien killed Marvyn Bradshaw, a friend of Colin Gunn's nephew Jamie Gunn, outside a Nottingham pub in August 2003.
The Stirlands left Nottingham after shots were fired at their Carlton home in September 2003.The Stirlands left Nottingham after shots were fired at their Carlton home in September 2003.
Mr Gargan, who had carried out an independent inquiry into the killings, said there had been a misunderstanding by Nottinghamshire Police that the Stirlands could only be allowed into the witness protection scheme if they made statements against Joan's son. On Friday, the inquest also heard police protection offered to the couple was "inadequate".
Lincolnshire Police "knew Gunn was planning attacks in the county"
Nicholas Gargan, Deputy Chief Constable of the National Policing Improvement Agency, who had carried out an independent inquiry into the killings, said there had been a misunderstanding by Nottinghamshire Police that the couple could only be allowed into the witness protection scheme if they made statements against Mrs Stirland's son.
He said: "From September 14, 2003, [the day the shots were fired] that question should have been academic because they were the victims of a callous and audacious attempt on their lives in their own home."He said: "From September 14, 2003, [the day the shots were fired] that question should have been academic because they were the victims of a callous and audacious attempt on their lives in their own home."
The witness told the inquest the force was "beleaguered" at the time and there were fundamental failings which stopped intelligence being shared.
He said secrecy designed to stop leaks was counter-productive, as it stopped police getting crucial intelligence.
'Missed chances''Missed chances'
The witness told the inquest at the time the force was "beleaguered" and there were fundamental failings which stopped intelligence being shared.
He said secrecy designed to stop leaks was counter-productive as it stopped police getting crucial intelligence.
"The failure to bring together all relevant intelligence meant intelligence that was corroborated was regarded as uncorroborated.""The failure to bring together all relevant intelligence meant intelligence that was corroborated was regarded as uncorroborated."
Mr Gargan also said Lincolnshire Police missed chances to protect the couple because they knew that Colin Gunn had been planning retribution attacks in the county.Mr Gargan also said Lincolnshire Police missed chances to protect the couple because they knew that Colin Gunn had been planning retribution attacks in the county.
Gunn has since been jailed for 35 years for conspiracy to murder the couple.Gunn has since been jailed for 35 years for conspiracy to murder the couple.
Co-defendants John Russell, 29, and Michael McNee, 22, were jailed for 30 and 25 years respectively, in 2006.Co-defendants John Russell, 29, and Michael McNee, 22, were jailed for 30 and 25 years respectively, in 2006.
Coroner Karon Monaghan is expected to sum up on Monday.Coroner Karon Monaghan is expected to sum up on Monday.