Wells defends shooting of driver of stolen car

Police in Northern Ireland who shot dead the driver of a stolen car took a split second decision to protect a woman and child whose lives were under threat, it was claimed today.

Jim Wells, a Democratic Unionist MLA, said officers issued six warnings before opening fire on the silver BMW as it tried to escape a road block in Ballynahinch, Co Down.

Investigators from Police Ombudsman Nuala O’Loan’s office are investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting of Steven Colwell, 23, at the wheel of the car on Easter Sunday.

Mr Wells defended the police action after carrying out his own inquiries and insisted no officers involved should be suspended.

He said: “There was a young girl in the back seat of a car partially blocking the road out for the silver BMW as it flailed around, frantically trying to get through a small gap.

“And there was a woman pedestrian standing watching this. From what I have been told both her and the child were at serious risk.

“There was a real possibility of either death or serious injury to the people in the way of that car getting out. I believe police faced with those circumstances acted properly.

“Who are we to judge in such split-second circumstances, and there should be no question of any suspensions.”

Mr Colwell, from the village of Cullybackey outside Ballymena, Co Antrim, was in the car with five others at the time of the shooting.

Three men and two women were arrested by police, but were later bailed and then interviewed by members of the 15-strong investigating team from the Ombudsman’s office.

The silver BMW was stolen at about 3am on Sunday following a burglary at a house near Ballyhornan, Co Down, where the keys were taken, according to Mr Wells.

When the owner found his car had been taken he alerted a relative who went out driving on the surrounding roads in a bid to find the vehicle, the DUP South Down Assemblyman added.

It was only by chance that he spotted the BMW driving in the opposite direction along the main Ballynahinch to Newcastle road, made a U-turn and gave chase.

His young daughter was in the car with him and it was her life which was threatened at the road block, Mr Wells said.

As the pursuit continued, police were contacted and given up to eight minutes warning that the stolen car would be coming through Ballynahinch.

They set up a road block and also laid out a stinger device, but that attempt to halt the car was thwarted when another vehicle arrived on the scene just before the BMW, according to Mr Wells.

“The silver BMW saw the road block and did a U-turn, intending to head back towards Newcastle,” he said. “At this point police are running along beside it shouting ‘stop or we’ll shoot’. They did this six times but the car had no intention of stopping.”