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A tragic incident involving the death of teenager Shannon McQuillan in 2018 in County Antrim has sparked an investigation that revealed multiple breaches in the duty of care offered by police officers. The incident occurred when Shannon, 19, and Owen McFerran, 21, were hit by a van near Toomebridge. The Police Ombudsman’s report stated that officers failed to safeguard the couple’s welfare and neglected basic checks when leaving them alone on the Moneynick Road.
Shannon’s father, Paul McQuillan, expressed his disappointment and shame at the behavior of the Police Service of Northern Ireland on the night of the incident. He criticized how the officers could leave a young girl, who was intoxicated and dressed for a night out, alone at a layby in the early hours of the morning. The treatment of Shannon was described as almost inhumane, prompting concerns about the lack of care shown by the authorities.
Charlene McQuillan, Shannon’s sister, remembered her as a loving and humble individual who faced life with grace. The interim chief executive of the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service, Maxine Paterson, accepted the recommendations for improving joint working arrangements with the police in high-risk situations. The report raised serious concerns about inter-agency communication and the collective response to vulnerable individuals in crisis.
The Police Ombudsman’s investigation noted the high alcohol levels in Shannon and Owen’s blood at the time of the accident and highlighted the significance of this information in assessing their vulnerability. The officers’ decisions and actions came under scrutiny, with communication breakdowns identified as a key issue. The ombudsman’s report recommended a new policy between the PSNI and NIAS for dealing with intoxicated individuals who refuse medical treatment to ensure better protection for vulnerable people in the future
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