Gerard McMahon

Gerard McMahon, 36, died in custody after being restrained by Belfast police on September 8, 2016.

An inquest heard that several hours prior to McMahon’s death he was physically restrained by three PSNI officers. At the time of his restraint McMahon was suffering from a cocaine induced Acute Behavioral Disturbance. McMahon was restrained on the ground and was held in a prone position by three officers. Officers also used CS spray on him and placed limb restraints on his legs.

In February 2020, the Public Prosecutions Service confirmed that there would be no criminal prosecution of any PSNI officers related to the death. In March 2021 coroner said the force used during the restraint was justified but the restraint itself was poor in terms of technique. He said that officers should have been monitoring his condition while restraint. The coroner also said the use of CS spray was not justified. In his conclusions, the coroner said that it was possible that McMahon would have survived without the restraint but in combination with the ABD it caused a cardiac arrest leading to McMahon’s death.

In March 2021 McMahon’s mother has sent pre-action correspondence to the Chief Constable of the PSNI, seeking damages on behalf of the estate of her son.