Police negligence alleged over Wieambilla shootings
The families of two officers shot in cold blood in the Wieambilla attacks have launched legal action, alleging police negligence.
Police constable Rachel McCrow, 29, and Matthew Arnold, 26, were among six people killed in a horror attack at a remote property west of Brisbane on December 12, 2022.
Almost three years later, the families of Constables McCrow and Arnold have sought compensation from both NSW and Queensland Police for debilitating psychological injuries.
“Our clients are confident of this, but barring the alleged negligence of the NSW and Queensland Police Service, Constable Rachel McCrow and Constable Matthew Arnold would still be alive… They were preparing to spend Christmas with their families,” their lawyers said.
He added that what the police officers’ families are going through is “beyond ordinary pain.”
“Time does not heal all wounds,” Kirk Watterson of Brandon & Gullo Lawyers said in a statement.
The families exchanged statements for five weeks during the 2024 inquest into the shootings, and Coroner Terry Ryan presented his findings in November.
Mr Watterson said the officers’ families had shown “incredible strength” in joining the investigation and were struggling to accept the findings.
He added that the families believe relevant evidence was overlooked or not fully taken into account by the coroner.
Mr Ryan said the incident could not have been predicted and concluded that “no government or other authority has information to indicate a risk of Wieambilla attacks”.
Delusional family Nathaniel, Gareth and Stacey Train shot and killed Constables Arnold and McCrow shortly after officers arrived at the property on behalf of NSW Police.
Nathaniel Train was reported missing from his post as state primary school principal in northern NSW.
The inquiry heard NSW Police failed to share information with their Queensland counterparts, including emails from Gareth Train who threatened violence if police entered his property.
Mr Ryan found Queensland officers might have had the opportunity to carry out a more comprehensive risk assessment if they had received these emails, but this may not have made a difference.
It also found that the officers were adequately trained and equipped for the routine work they were expected to do.
Mr Watterson said the claim, pursued by the officers’ families, required the parties to attend a mandatory conference.
If no agreement is reached, court proceedings will begin detailing allegations of negligence and the injuries suffered by families as a result.
“Our clients are committed to making significant changes to the training, policies and procedures of the NSW Police Force and Queensland Police Service to protect the lives of police officers now and in the future,” Mr Watterson said.
“They also want to ensure that the families of these police officers never suffer the kind of pain and loss they have now endured.”
A total of six people were killed in the Wieambilla shootings, including neighbor Alan Dare, who was shot dead while investigating gunshots.
Trains was later killed in a shootout with specialist police.
