The Police Ombudsman has concluded that police were justified in discharging Taser at a man who was threatening to kill himself with a knife.

The incident happened in the Holywood Road area of Belfast in 25 May 2010 when police were contacted by a man who reported that his father was at home and threatening to kill himself.

Police went to the man's house and found him in a bedroom with a craft knife which he placed to his throat.

Police officers engaged the man in conversation and tried to keep him calm while they waited for the arrival of a trained negotiator, who had been tasked to the scene. Armed officers were also sent, with instructions to use Tasers should the man begin to self-harm.

The man remained highly agitated throughout an hour of discussions with police, before placing the knife to his chest and threatening to stab himself in the heart.

Two officers then discharged Tasers. The first was ineffective as the Taser barbs were blocked from connecting with the man. The second discharge was effective and allowed police to restrain the man.

Police Ombudsman investigators obtained accounts from police witnesses and the man's son, analysed the electronic memories of the Tasers used (which record times and durations of discharges), and examined all relevant police documentation.

The Police Ombudsman, Mr Al Hutchinson, concluded that the police response to the incident had been graduated, given that they had talked and tried to negotiate with him for an hour before resorting to the use of Taser when serious self-harm seemed imminent.

He said that police had dealt with the situation in "a professional manner" which had achieved an appropriate conclusion.