Hearing about joyrider shot dead by PSNI officer

Hearing about joyrider shot dead by PSNI officer

6 April 2016

A MONTH-LONG inquest into the death of a man shot after he failed to stop at a police checkpoint in Ballynahinch is due to take place in October.

Steven Colwell, the 23 year-old driver of a stolen BMW, died at the scene on Easter Sunday 2006 after one of the officers at the checkpoint fired twice in an attempt to stop the car. 

Three officers, briefed that day about a theft of a BMW car, a 'creeper' burglary and a general threat from dissident republicans, believed the stolen car was being driven from Seaforde towards Ballynahinch and had set up the checkpoint outside the town’s police station.

A confrontation took place after Mr Colwell, who was from Cullybackey, tried to drive away from the scene but was hindered by other cars.

No charges were brought against the unnamed officer who fired the shots at the car windscreen and driver’s window. In 2011, a Police Ombudsman’s report said Mr Colwell had been “reckless” but found the police officer who fired the shots played “the greater part” in the tragedy. The Ombudsman said his actions were “critically flawed” and that the decision to set up a checkpoint outside the station was “high risk and ill considered”.

At a preliminary inquest hearing in Belfast on Thursday, Coroner Joseph McCrisken heard the majority of the extensive documentation in the case had now been considered by lawyers for the police and the family.

A medical report concerning the policeman was also discussed at the hearing, and alleged inaccuracies are being considered by lawyers for the officer, referred to only as ‘Officer O’.

Barrister Peter Coll QC, for the Coroner’s Office, pointed out that the officer had been granted anonymity at an early stage by the High Court and said his representatives needed to make a decision on whether this was to be formalised for the inquest proceedings.

Coroner Joseph McCrisken pointed to this month marking the 10 year anniversary of Mr Colwell’s death and said he was insisting on no unnecessary delays.

Speaking after the preliminary hearing, Neil Colwell, brother of the late Steven Colwell, said he had been heartened by the approach of the newly appointed coroner.

“He was quite serious there,” he said. “He is not letting anybody drag their heels.

“Over the past couple of years it has been put back and put back. There has been systemic delays.

“I just want to hear why Steven’s life was taken that day. Why did he have to be shot?”

Mr Colwell said there was a “bigger picture” to the life of his brother, who he had treated as a son since their mother’s death when Steven was 13.

“I totally disagree with car crime and joyriding but I do not believe the punishment for it should be death,” he said. “It doesn’t happen in England, Scotland or Wales.”
Mr Colwell, originally from the Shankill area of Belfast, said his brother had suffered brain damage at the age of nine due to injuries sustained in a sectarian attack outside Girdwood Army Barracks and had learning difficulties.

“This is not just a wee lad stealing a car,” he said.

A post-mortem examination following Mr Colwell’s death established that he had died from injuries caused by the first shot fired on Easter Sunday 2006.

It also found a level of the drug ecstasy and a tranquilliser in his blood which "could have affected his ability to control" the car.