Probe into how New Year's Day killer was allowed to keep guns

An independent inquiry was launched today into how a taxi driver who shot dead three women on New Year's Day before turning the gun on himself was allowed to hold licences for shotguns and other firearms.

Michael Atherton, 42, killed his 47-year-old partner, Susan McGoldrick, her sister, Alison Turnbull, 44, and her niece, Tanya Turnbull, 24, before taking his own life on New Year's Day.

The shooting was referred to a police watchdog after it emerged that officers had been contacted three years ago when Mr Atherton had threatened to harm himself.

The four bodies were found in the semi-detached house in Peterlee, Co Durham, after police were alerted to shots being fired shortly before 11.45pm on Sunday night.

Mrs McGoldrick's 19-year-old daughter, Laura, witnessed the shootings and survived by leaping to safety from an upstairs window at the family home.

She was treated for minor gunshot injuries and released from hospital. Durham Police said they were voluntarily referring the incident to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

The force confirmed Mr Atherton held firearms licences for three shotguns and three "Section One" firearms, a category requiring greater authorisation than a shotgun licence.

A spokeswoman said they were still trying to establish the exact circumstances of what took place and were speaking to other people who had also been in the house at the time.

Police could not confirm whether any of those lawfully held weapons had been used in the shooting.

Durham Police Assistant Chief Constable Michael Banks said it was believed Mr Atherton may have been a member of a gun club but police were still investigating this.

Senior investigating officer Detective Superintendent Paul Goundry said there had been other people in the house who were now being interviewed.