British gun licensing laws are ‘flawed’ and in dire need of reform, a coroner warns after an inquest into a taxi driver who shot dead three members of his family before killing himself.
Andrew Tweddle said he would write to the home secretary calling for “root and branch” reform of a “flawed” system. It was “fortuitous”, he said, that there had not been more gun-related murder like that of taxi driver Michael Atherton (pictured) who killed his partner, her sister and niece on New Year’s Day 2012.
Atherton, 42, shot partner, Susan McGoldrick, 47, her sister, Alison Turnbull, 44, and Ms Turnbull’s daughter, Tanya, 24, before turning the gun on himself.
The inquest heard that Atherton, legally owned six weapons despite a history of domestic abuse and threats to self-harm. A note attached to his first application for a firearms licence in 2006 said: “Four domestics, last one 24/4/04, was cautioned for assault. Still resides with partner and son and daughter. “Would like to refuse, have we sufficient to refuse re public safety?”
Michael Atherton had a history of domestic abuse but had had his weapons returned to him in September 2008 just weeks after they were confiscated following threats to “blow his head off”. He was given a warning.
But weeks later the guns were returned to him, with a final written warning telling him to behave responsibly.
A separate investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission released today accuses Durham Constabulary of demonstrating a “reprehensible lack of intrusive inquiries” in events leading up to the rampage.
IPCC commissioner Nicholas Long said the inquiry had identified a series of blunders and poor practice including “woeful record keeping” in the force’s handling of the case.
She said: “Had just one person obtained a complete picture of Atherton’s history as a perpetrator of domestic violence, many incidents occurring whilst he was under the influence of alcohol, then it may have alerted police to a pattern of behaviour which required far greater scrutiny.
“It is beyond doubt that Durham Constabulary missed valuable opportunities to assess his suitability to be granted a licence and remain a gun owner.”
Mr Tweddle said Durham Police had conducted a thorough review of its firearms licensing practices since the tragedy.
He said it highlighted that many other licences had been issued to “improper” people. “The review undertaken by Durham Police has revealed an enormous number of unsatisfactory decisions having been made and it is fortuitous that, significant as this incident has been, there has not been more.”
Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper supported the call for a reassessment of licensing. “Atherton should never have been given a gun. What the Turnbull family have had to go through is harrowing and I pay tribute to them for taking this campaign forward.
“Men with a history of domestic violence should not be allowed to own guns. The guidance on domestic violence in the gun licensing framework is far too weak and much stronger action is needed.”