Glasgow Postman Shooting incident Saturday 23 May 2009

[TrueBlueTerrier]

LTB 874/09 - Glasgow Postman Shooting incident Saturday 23 May 2009 - Perpetrator Jailed for 5 Years 3 Months


No. 874/09
Ref P18
Date: 5 October 2009

To: All Branches

Dear Colleagues
Glasgow Postman Shooting incident Saturday 23 May 2009 - Perpetrator Jailed for 5 Years 3 Months

LTB 468/09 reported to Branches a CWU Glasgow & District Amal Branch member and delivery postman working out of the Glasgow Barrhead G78 Delivery office was performing his normal Saturday morning delivery round on the city's Crossmill/Dunterlie Estate when he came under fire in what was a "random" incident. He was fired at 9 times with a high powered air rifle and hit twice, once in the temple and once in the face, receiving superficial injuries, the worst of which was a nasty injury to his face where one of the pellets penetrated his upper lip and a front tooth was lost. After taking cover and calling 999 the emergency services and Police attended the scene and he was taken to the Royal Alexandria Hospital in Paisley where he received the necessary emergency medical treatment and has subsequently been afforded psychological support and assistance.


Thankfully Strathclyde Police very quickly tracked down, arrested and charged an individual for the crime who was subsequently remanded in custody. This month Grant Finnigan appeared at Paisley Sheriff Court to face charges for the shooting. He pleaded guilty to charges of being in possession of a firearm and ammunition and guilty to recklessly discharging a firearm at another person causing injury and bodily harm. Finnigan was sentenced to five years and three months in prison.

The Glasgow & Dist Amal Branch were fully involved, giving the member every assistance and support, Arthur Nugent ASR carried out a full incident investigation and worked closely with Royal Mail and is conducting a "walk safe" assault policy review. Close contact with the injured member was maintained. Deliveries to the Crossmill Avenue, Dunterlie Estate area were suspended pending the outcome of the investigation to protect the safety of members.

The CWU condemned the actions of the mindless gun thug who perpetrated the crime and welcomed the sentence handed down to Finnigan which is fully justified. Postal workers provide a vitally important community job and deserve to work in a safe environment with the full protection of the law.

This incident sadly demonstrates the type of environment and society which we live in and in which some of our members have to perform their duties, facing the risk of assaults, robberies and dog attacks for example. Fortunately, incidents of this nature remain relatively low in comparison with the number of people we have out working in the streets and in contact with the public, but the situation is not getting any better and this calls for a suitable level of vigilance.

It is very important that Area Safety Representatives and other branch officials ensure that "high risk areas" are jointly monitored and that agreed "walk safe" assaults policy risk assessments are regularly reviewed and kept up to date. The safety, security and wellbeing of our members is of paramount importance.

Yours sincerely


Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Offi

[andy2007]

Thank goodness they've got him off the streets for a few years. Although it doesn't sound very long, for shooting someone. So much for deterrants, eh?

[Thunderthighs]

I can imagine a Doms reaction to any similar AOD Reports,
"Are you SURE you didn't try to get shot? Perhaps you ran in front of the bullet? Think carefully now..."

[andy2007]

It wouldn't surprise me.

[opgpat]

Poor guuy, he could have been killed if the pellet which knocked his tooth out had gone into his eye socket. Def should have been more than 5 years for this prick - out in 3. No mention of motive here - do you thing his Giro was late?

[El Diablo]

His giro was late, confirmed.