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PC David Rathband inquest: Northumbria Police deny failings | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Northumbria Police have denied they failed a PC who took his own life after he was shot and blinded on duty. | |
Chief Constable Sue Sim said the force had offered support "far in excess of any legal duty" to David Rathband. | |
At an inquest in Newcastle, coroner Eric Armstrong found Mr Rathband, who was shot by Raoul Moat in 2010, took his own life in February 2012. | |
The 44-year-old's family said they would "continue with David's litigation" against the force. | |
PC David Rathband was found hanged in Blyth, in Northumberland, in February 2012, 19 months after being shot as he sat in his patrol car. | PC David Rathband was found hanged in Blyth, in Northumberland, in February 2012, 19 months after being shot as he sat in his patrol car. |
The inquest had heard he had threatened to kill himself after being injured. | |
Mr Armstrong said he was "drawn inescapably to the conclusion that David intended to take his own life" and that he did not believe Mr Rathband's actions were a "cry for help" because he had locked his door, leaving the key in the lock. | |
He told the inquest that Mr Rathband's colleagues and friends may, "with the benefit of hindsight, form the view that they wish they could have done something else". | He told the inquest that Mr Rathband's colleagues and friends may, "with the benefit of hindsight, form the view that they wish they could have done something else". |
However, he said such things should not be dwelled on as they had taken decisions "which at the time seemed appropriate and were justified". | However, he said such things should not be dwelled on as they had taken decisions "which at the time seemed appropriate and were justified". |
'Totally without justification' | |
Mr Rathband had been pursuing legal action against Northumbria Police claiming he should not have been in a patrol car alone when a gunman was on the rampage. | |
After the hearing, Ms Sim said the coroner had been "satisfied that David took his own life" and "did not criticise any individual or organisation". | |
"I gave David my personal commitment that, should he wish to do so, he could return to Northumbria Police as a police officer," she said. | |
"There have been criticisms levelled at Northumbria Police during the inquest by some of David's family. | |
"We fully understand the family's grief at David's death but we must refute any suggestion that we failed to support David or that the support we provided was inadequate. | |
"Such allegations are totally without justification. We provided the highest level of financial, welfare and rehabilitation support to David, far in excess of any legal duty." | |
Outside the inquest, Mr Rathband's sister Debbie Essery said he had "suffered horrific, life-changing injuries which he fought bravely and with courage and dignity, trying to come to terms with a life of pain and darkness". | |
"The loss of David has devastated our family. We will never be able to come to terms with this." | |
She added that the family would "now continue with David's litigation against Northumbria Police for the benefit of David's children". | |
Mrs Rathband's estranged wife Kath, who had told the three-day inquest their marriage ended after her husband's affair with 7/7 London bomber survivor Lisa French, asked for privacy. | |
In a statement read by lawyer Philip Davison, she said the attack by Moat had changed her family's lives "irrevocably". | |
"David fought so hard to come to terms with the devastating injuries and the effect it had on us all as a family. | |
"Whilst I have lost David, he has left me with two amazing children and he would be immensely proud of them and what they have achieved, as I am." |