A top Belfast cop is being investigated after his personal protection gun went off at his holiday home over Easter.
The bullet from the senior officer’s gun is understood to have shot through the wall of his mobile home and into a neighbouring caravan.
Both the Police Ombudsman and PSNI are investigating the alleged incident at the busy family holiday park on Thursday, April 25 near Benone Beach in Co Derry.
A PSNI spokesperson said: “Police are investigating an incident where an off-duty officer accidentally discharged his firearm in a caravan in the Limavady area on the evening of Thursday 25 April.
“No one was injured as a result of the incident and, as is normal procedure, the office of the Police Ombudsman have been informed.
“The police investigation is continuing.”
The Sunday World reported how the officer involved in this incident holds a very senior position within the force.
It is understood he has already been quizzed by fellow officers but now faces a grilling from Police Ombudsman investigators and could eventually be disciplined.
The PSNI has a total of 7040 officers in both regular and part-time reserve posts, from Chief Constable right down to student officers and every one of them is firearm trained.
A Freedom of Information request to police in 2017 revealed previous concerns about the discharge of weapons.
It was reported at the time that police in Northern Ireland negligently discharged weapons more than 30 times between 2011 and 2016.
In 2011 the Police Ombudsman said it was fortunate no one was killed or seriously injured when an officer accidentally fired a shot through the floor of a police car outside the Hydebank Young Offenders Centre.
An officer was disciplined in 2010 after accidentally firing a round from his personal protection weapon into the floor of a police Land Rover, the watchdog said.
Many accidental discharge incidents involve police issue Glock 17s - which cost around £410 each and do not have a safety catch.
But a case in November 2013 saw an officer accidentally shoot one round into a civilian vehicle using a semi-automatic rifle - no injuries were reported.
PSNI weapons are serviced twice a year and operational officers are required to take refresher firearms training two days a year at a cost of around £70 a day to the PSNI.
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