North police use Taser on knife man

Police in the North used a Taser on a man armed with knives who was threatening to harm himself, it was revealed today.

The Police Ombudsman’s Office said it has launched an investigation into the incident, which happened in Newry, Co Down.

Police were initially called to the scene in Corcreechy Road shortly after 9am yesterday when the man was found to be armed with several knives and threatening to self-harm.

The Ombudsman said today that specialist armed officers and police negotiators were dispatched and, after several hours of negotiations, a Taser was used to allow officers to restrain the man.

He was subsequently taken to hospital for treatment.

All Taser discharges are automatically referred by the PSNI to the Police Ombudsman for independent investigation.

Police Ombudsman investigators have been to the scene, interviewed witnesses and conducted house-to-house inquiries.

They said inquiries are continuing.