PC Ian Terry: IPCC investigating evidence given by police over fatal shooting of officer

Greater Manchester Police also under investigation over the deaths of two other unarmed men

PC Ian Terry was killed in a botched training exercise by GMP in 2008. (GMP)

New investigations are underway into Greater Manchester Police over three deaths dating back almost a decade.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) said it was reviewing the evidence given by police officers after one of their colleagues was shot dead, as well as in a public inquiry into the shooting of another unarmed man, and the death of a 23-year-old who was Tasered and restrained.

PC Ian Terry was unarmed when he was killed during a firearms training exercise at a disused warehouse in Manchester in 2008.

The officer who fired the fatal shot, known by the pseudonym “Chris”, was reprimanded for gross misconduct and, although an inquest found Mr Terry was unlawfully killed, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said there was “insufficient evidence” to bring criminal charges.

The IPCC said questions had since arisen over the actions of Greater Manchester Police (GMP) officers and the evidence it provided following his death.

“The IPCC has commenced an investigation looking at evidence given by a number of officers to the IPCC, to the inquest after PC Terry’s death, and to the subsequent Health and Safety Executive (HSE) crown court trial,” a spokesperson said.

“A decision on the remaining allegations will be made as soon as possible.

“PC Terry’s family has been notified of the new IPCC investigation and will be provided with regular updates as this case progresses.”

The original IPCC investigation concluded in December 2009, with two officers subsequently disciplined for gross misconduct and a third retiring before disciplinary proceedings could be held.

The watchdog has announced a separate probe into evidence given by police at a public inquiry into the death of Anthony Grainger, an unarmed man who was shot by a GMP officer in 2012.

The inquiry into the 36-year-old’s death began in January this year and has heard officers relied on out-of-date intelligence and inaccurate briefings from the National Crime Agency.

Mr Grainger, a father-of-two from Bolton, was shot in the chest while sitting in a stolen Audi during a GMP operation in Culcheth, Cheshire.

A lawyer representing the force denied allegations of a cover-up and said GMP was “committed to learning lessons” over the case, which was part of an investigation into an organised crime gang believed to be planning armed robberies.

The IPCC has said it will consider publishing a report of its investigation into the circumstances of his death once the inquiry has concluded.

“We have also begun a separate independent investigation into a complaint we received that relates to the evidence given at the public inquiry,” a spokesperson said.

It is also re-investigating the death of 23-year-old Jordan Begley – who was Tasered by GMP officers in 2013.

He went into cardiac arrest after police were called to his home when his mother alerted them to fears he would attack neighbours.

Police were called to the house of Jordan Begley, 23, after a row developed with neighbours (Facebook)

GMP officers Tasered Mr Begley, then beat and restrained him face-down on the floor, saying they believed he was carrying a knife. He died two hours later.

A report into his death is expected to be published later this year.

The original IPCC investigation, which found no individual officer had a case to answer, was quashed by the High Court last year after it was found to be inconsistent with the subsequent inquest.

“The reinvestigation, being led by the IPCC’s chief operating officer Ian Todd, began in early February this year,” a spokesperson said.

“The IPCC investigators have now reviewed all the evidence from the original case, which has then been assessed against evidence given during the inquest.

“The IPCC has not found, at this time, any evidence which would require the GMP officers involved to be re-interviewed by the IPCC.

“This aspect of the investigation remains under review.”

A spokesperson for GMP declined to comment when contacted by The Independent.