Personal injury news

Man with brain injury handcuffed and taken to police station

A man who had suffered a brain haemorrhage was handcuffed and put in the back of a police van instead of being taken to hospital by paramedics, an inquest heard.

Vincent Kiernan, 42, collapsed at his girlfriend's house in Sale, Manchester, in September 2004 and despite paramedics arriving quickly at the scene, Mr Kiernan was instead taken to Altrincham police station and subsequently died seven days later from a brain injury.

The inquest heard how paramedics arrived at the scene to hear shouting from the flat and refused to enter the building until police back-up had arrived.

Paramedic Phillip Manning told the inquest, "The first time I saw him was when I entered the room with the police officers. I did not want to go in the flat before they arrived because I could hear screaming and furniture being moved around."

When paramedics tried to attend to Mr Kiernan, he reportedly lashed out and had to be handcuffed. It was at this point Mr Manning decided not to take him in the back of the ambulance and asked officers to take him to the station to see a police surgeon, something police officers deny.

South Manchester Coroner, John Pollard said, "If someone is seriously ill, where do they need to go, a hospital or a police station, where was the appropriate place? Why wasn't he taken in a police van to the hospital?"

Suffering from a brain injury, Mr Kiernan was escorted out to the police van wearing just his underpants and a blanket to cover him.

Mr Manning said, "I don't think there was anywhere secure enough in the hospital and I don't want to risk him biting a nurse."

If Kiernan had been taken to hospital straight away, it is alleged he may not have died from his serious personal injuries.