The Police Ombudsman has found that police were justified in discharging a Taser at a man (Man A) armed with three knives in the Castlereagh area of Belfast in November 2009.

The incident happened shortly after 7.30pm on 1 November 2009, as police responded to a 999 call about a domestic incident. Man A's partner reported that Man A was intoxicated and was in possession of knives, but before she could end the call Man A took possession of the phone and shouted abuse before hanging up.

Police despatched three specialist firearms officers to deal with the incident. The officers were informed that Man A had knives and had locked himself in his house and were instructed to try to negotiate with him, but also to be prepared to use less than lethal force if necessary.

When the officers knocked on Man A's door, he opened it by a few inches, but not far enough to make himself visible to the officers. An officer then pushed the door open further to find a well-lit hall leading to a larger room, but no sign of Man A.

Man A was then ordered to make himself visible to the officers and subsequently appeared in the room at the end of the hall holding three knives. He was ordered to drop the weapons and keep his hands visible but failed to do so and instead stepped towards the officers. He was then warned that Taser would be used if he moved any further forward.

When Man A again moved forward, one of the officers discharged his Taser, striking him on the chest. Man A tensed and fell backwards, allowing the officers to disarm and handcuff him.

Man A later told Police Ombudsman investigators that he had no complaints about the way police handled the incident.

The officer who used the Taser was found to have been properly trained and authorised in its use at the time of the incident.

Having reviewed the evidence of the case, the Police Ombudsman, Mr Al Hutchinson, concluded that the use of Taser had been appropriate in the circumstances, having been discharged "with the intention of preventing crime, protecting lives and effecting the lawful arrest of an offender or suspected offender."

He noted that Man A was intoxicated and posed a real and immediate threat to the officers and potentially also members of the public should he have been allowed to leave his property.

Mr Hutchinson therefore concluded that the use of Taser had been "legal, proportionate and necessary."