Officer justified in using lethal force in 2003 shooting, coroner rules

Neil McConville, 21, a father of two, was killed as he tried to evade police in a car near Lisburn in April 2003.

A coroner has said a PSNI officer was justified in using lethal force during a fatal shooting in 2003 (Niall Carson/PA)

A police officer was justified in using lethal force in the first fatal shooting carried out by the PSNI, a coroner has said.

However, Judge Philip Babington said that a police operation which led to the death of Neil McConville “was not planned and controlled in such a way that it minimised to the greatest extent possible the need to recourse to lethal force”.