Fatal Shot Fired In Self Defence, Inquest Told

An inquest has been told of how a Glengormley man was shot dead by police investigating a domestic incident.

A 30 year-old unemployed man, James Alfred Cornhill, was killed by a police officer defending himself from an attack.

He died of a single bullet wound to the chest at his Carnmoney Road home on April 19 2000.

The inquest heard that that police officers were called to the house at Bridge End by Mr Cornhill's partner Margaret Begley, who claimed he was attacking her.

When the police arrived at the house they found the door ajar. They went inside and called "Hello, police", and were answered by Ms Begley, who came downstairs, followed by her partner. She claimed Mr Cornhill had been beating her.

One of the officers, Constable Hanna was looking to see whether her face was bruised when he was hit behind the ear with a heavy blow, propelling him over the sofa onto the floor.

He told the inquest that Ms Begley started screaming hysterically: "He's got a hatchet!"

The constable said that in the dim light he saw Mr Cornhill brandishing what appeared to be a hatchet, but proved later to be a wrench, the inquest heard.

He drew his gun and warned Mr Cornhill to get back, but he ignored the warning and moved forward, at which point Constable Hanna fired a single shot.

State pathologist Professor Crane said the bullet entered Mr Cornhill's body in the arm and travelled through the heart and both lungs before lodging in the ribs. He died a short time later.

Constable Hanna said he was helped out of the house by Sergeant David Glasgow and was taken to a neighbour's house.

Both officers said that as they left Mr Cornhill's house, they turned to see Ms Begley stamping on the injured man's head.

Constable Hanna said he suffered partial hearing loss since he was hit with the wrench and has experienced tinnitus ever since.

"There was absolutely no other course of action I could have taken that night that would have saved me from further injury and a truncheon would have been absolutely useless as at that point I was already injured," Constable Hanna told the inquest.

Professor Crane also said there were injuries to Mr Cornhill's head and face consistent with having been kicked with a shod foot.

These would have been inflicted when Mr Cornhill was still alive and would not have contributed to his death.

A file was submitted to the DPP, who decided that no one was to be prosecuted.

(BMcC)