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Police suicide probe 'not flawed' Police suicide probe 'not flawed'
(40 minutes later)
A police investigation into the suicide of an NI soldier in 2001 was correctly handled, the police ombudsman has said. A police inquiry into the suicide of an NI soldier six years ago was correctly handled, the police ombudsman has said.
Nuala O'Loan said the death of RIR Private Paul Cochrane, 18, at Drumadd Barracks in Armagh was investigated "thoroughly and correctly". Nuala O'Loan said the death of RIR private Paul Cochrane, 18, at Drumadd Barracks in Armagh was investigated "thoroughly and correctly".
Mr Cochrane shot himself after allegedly being bullied. Mr Cochrane shot himself on 30 July 2001 after allegedly being bullied.
His father complained to the ombudsman that police had made errors, however, she said there was nothing to suggest anyone was involved in his death. His father complained to the Ombudsman that police had made errors, however, she said there was nothing to suggest anyone was involved in his death.
"The only evidence was that he fired the gun himself," she said."The only evidence was that he fired the gun himself," she said.
Referring to the family's concern, that the bullet which killed Mr Cochrane had not been recovered, Mrs O'Loan said that it would have added very little if anything to the investigation.Referring to the family's concern, that the bullet which killed Mr Cochrane had not been recovered, Mrs O'Loan said that it would have added very little if anything to the investigation.
"The bullet lodged itself in a sheet of asbestos, and a decision was taken not to retrieve it," she said."The bullet lodged itself in a sheet of asbestos, and a decision was taken not to retrieve it," she said.
Ithink it is unprofessional for the Ombudsman to publish this without meeting usagain because we made it clear that we disagreed on almost everything Billy CochraneFather
"This decision had no detrimental or adverse effect on the investigation."This decision had no detrimental or adverse effect on the investigation.
"In actual fact the original investigation was not flawed, it provided the information required of it and its findings were corroborated by the investigation," she added."In actual fact the original investigation was not flawed, it provided the information required of it and its findings were corroborated by the investigation," she added.
Mrs O'Loan concluded that there was no evidence of criminal or disciplinary misconduct by any police officer involved in the case.Mrs O'Loan concluded that there was no evidence of criminal or disciplinary misconduct by any police officer involved in the case.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland reviewed the case after the Cochranefamily expressed concern amid the inquiry into the Deepcut army barracksdeaths in southern England.
Mr Cochrane's father Billy had alleged that police had failed to mount a proper investigation into his son's death.
He also expressed concern that the incident scene had not been properly preserved, that evidential opportunities had been missed and that the investigation had been compromised as a result.
He said he disputed the Ombudsman's findings.
"Everything in it is contradictory to everything that we have told them," he said.
"Ithink it is unprofessional for the Ombudsman to publish this without meeting usagain because we made it clear that we disagreed on almost everything."