Search complaint thrown out
Officers who entered a property without a search warrant acted appropriately, a Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland (PONI) investigation has found.
Two officers were called to a Ballycastle home in March to check a bail subject was complying with his curfew.
The occupant claimed they had unlawfully forced their way in and damaged his front door, had wielded a firearm and refused to identify themselves.
He also reported he had no knowledge of the bail subject.
PONI investigators found there was no doubt the man knew the bail subject as the two shared a surname.
The officers said they had discovered the house with the front door open and feared a crime was in the process of being committed, so entered while announcing they were police.
The householder confronted them but rejected their explanations and accused them of damaging the door.
No evidence was found to corroborate the man’s claims that firearms were drawn or the officers had refused to identify themselves.
His complaint has now been rejected.
A PONI spokesperson said the officers “were acting in accordance with regulations in being at the premises”.