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Girlfriend of man who died in police custody in Lisburn in 2014 gives evidence to trial

David McGowan died in Lisburn PSNI station in 2014
David McGowan died in Lisburn PSNI station in 2014 David McGowan died in Lisburn PSNI station in 2014

THE girlfriend of a man who died in a custody cell at Lisburn police station wept in court yesterday as she was questioned about the hours leading to his death.

David McGowan (28) was found dead in his cell after he and his girlfriend were arrested for an incident outside a flat in east Belfast in May, 2014.

Sergeant Brian McKenna, who on the evening of Thursday May 29 2014, was the custody officer who processed both following their arrest, is currently standing trial at Belfast Crown Court on two charges - namely causing Mr McGowan's manslaughter, and of misconduct in a public office. He has denies both offences.

On the second day of the trial, Kirsty Pinkerton how she she had been arrested that night for breaching a non-molestation order by causing an incident at her former partner's flat.

When police arrived at the incident at the Beersbridge Road, Ms Pinkerton was arrested for the breaches, while Mr McGowan was subsequently arrested for disorderly behaviour and resisting and assaulting police.

The jury has already heard around three hours after arriving at Lisburn, and after telling a member of staff he wanted to see a doctor and had taken 40 tablets, Mr McGowan was pronounced dead at 1.47am on Friday May 30.

A post mortem revealed he died of 'upper airway obstruction due to inhalation of gastric contents, due to toxic effects of alcohol and drugs'.

It was also revealed a tramadol tablet was recovered from his trachea.

Ms Pinkerton became emotional several times as she recalled spending the day with Mr McGowan and another man.

She said that between them, they consumed three litres of Strongbow cider, three ten-glass bottles of vodka which were stolen from Lidl and a range of substances including cannabis and diazepam.

When asked about the incident at her ex's flat which led to the arrest of both her and Mr McGowan, Ms Pinkerton said she had very little recollection and was seen on CCTV asking where she was.

The court heard she did, however, make a subsequent statement in which she said: "His last words to me were that he loved me. I take great comfort from the fact these were David's final words and were spoken minutes before his death, around 1am."

In the footage, Sgt McKenna can be heard telling Ms Pinkerton "This is the best custody suite in the province." And when she raises concerns about her medication, Sgt McKenna says: "The doctor will come and see you. This is the best run place in the world. Not a problem."

Under questioning by Mark Mulholland QC, about her interaction with Sgt McKenna when she arrived at Lisburn after watching the CCTV footage, she agreed when asked if he had been sympathetic.

Mr Mulholland then suggested to Ms Pinkerton that Sgt McKenna was comforting and supportive to her, and tried to introduce some normality.

When asked if it was not the case that Sgt McKenna acted in a professional manner, Ms Pinkerton replied: "I don't know exactly what happened to David, so I wouldn't say professional."

The trial continues.