Police mistakenly refused to disclose abuse history

A journalist was “mistakenly” told by police weeks before her death that she was not entitled to know whether her former partner had any history of domestic abuse, an inquest has heard.

Granada Reports news editor Teresa McMahon was found dead at her flat in Salford in August 2021, shortly after she reported to Greater Manchester Police (GMP) that her fingers and possibly a rib had been broken.

The 43-year-old’s ex-partner, Robert Chalmers, gave evidence via video-link from Bolton after he was arrested after failing to attend his inquest in London. He denied physically hurting her or trying to control her.

Coroner Mary Hassell concluded that Ms McMahon took her own life and that “no other person forced her to do so”.

She said: “I have no evidence that any other person physically caused Teresa’s death.”

The court heard that on July 12, 2021, Ms. McMahon asked GMP to disclose information about any history of violence or abuse on the part of Mr. Chalmers.

Giving evidence at the inquest, Det Inspector Charlotte Poole said that a junior GMP officer had “mistakenly” told Ms McMahon nine days later that she was not entitled to this information under Clare’s law because she was currently in a relationship with him. I was not there.

Officers tried unsuccessfully to contact Ms McMahon the next day and again on 29 July and told her she might be entitled to access the information.

Det Inspector Poole also told the inquest that during the police visit on 21 July, Ms McMahon “complained of broken fingers and a possibly broken rib, but did not seek medical attention for those injuries” and Did not want to assist in the prosecution. Mr. Chalmers.

She said: “It is not uncommon for domestic abuse victims to not wish to assist in the prosecution after making a report.”

Ms Poole revealed Mr Chalmers had been named in “three logs” of domestic abuse reports over an 11-year period.

These do not necessarily have to be convictions – they could also be allegations or intelligence reports.

Mr Chalmers acknowledged that his relationship with Ms McMahon was volatile, but said he did not physically hurt her, force himself on her or control her.

Asked by the coroner whether he thought unhappiness with his relationship was a cause of his death, Mr Chalmers replied: “No.”

Ms Hassell asked Det Inspector Poole whether GMP had considered the possibility that Ms McMahon might have killed herself as a result of the coercive control.

He replied “There was nothing to suggest she was”.

Det Ch Inspector Gareth Humphreys said the investigation found “no salvage injuries” on Ms McMahon’s body.

He said that a journal written by her, seen by police, “mentioned the reasons why she wanted to die”.

Dr Muhammad Bashir, who conducted Ms McMahon’s post-mortem, said the inquest had found no indication that anyone else was involved in her death.

“There was no malicious or threatening communication between Teresa and Robert,” Det Con Max Bammack said in a statement reading out the investigation.

It said Ms McMahon texted Mr Chalmers on August 2, saying “I wish I was dead”.

In another message she wrote: “I’ve got nothing. I’ve never felt so worthless,” Mr Chalmers later replied: “You’ve got plenty to do Teresa.”

He also sent messages saying “Hope you’re okay Teresa” and “Let me know you’re okay.”

Ms McMahon’s father, Bernard, said he felt her death was a “tragic combination of being in a bad relationship, drinking too much and suffering from depression”.

“There was shouting, screaming and threats between them, but I do not believe there was any physical abuse or controlling behaviour,” he said in a written statement read out in court.

She described her daughter as “motivated” and “very generous”.

Ms McMahon’s aunt, Lorna McMahon, told the court that her brother was “lying”, adding that he was “a friend of Robert Chalmers”.

Ms Hassell said that although the inquest was “not a public inquiry into GMP”, the police investigation into his death was “not perfect”.

In a statement released after the inquest, Assistant Chief Constable Steph Parker said GMP had “addressed concerns raised by the coroner about the benefit of visual photographs in non-suspicious circumstances and clear retention periods for body-worn video.” Had done”.