Firearm man shot by police detained indefinitely

A man who was shot by police while carrying a firearm has been detained in a secure institution.

Samuel Houlihan was shot in the arm in May after ignoring repeated requests from police to not raise the weapon.

At an earlier hearing at Durham Crown Court, the 24-year-old, of Linburn Drive, Bishop Auckland, admitted possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.

He has now been detained indefinitely under the mental health act.

On the morning of the shooting on 25 May, Houlihan bought a Sig Sauer P226 - an air pistol designed to look like a hand gun - after lying to an assistant he was not banned from owning a firearm.

The air pistol is designed to look like a handgun

He was spotted on CCTV carrying the weapon in a working men's club, before making his way to a convenience store where he bought a bottle of whiskey and got into a taxi.

The vehicle was stopped in Rochester Close, Bishop Auckland, by armed police who had been alerted by members of the public.

When he failed to comply to orders to drop it, he was shot and injured in the arm.

After hearing psychiatric reports and assessments, Judge Christopher Prince concluded Houlihan had a severe mental health problem and detained him in a secure hospital.

He also praised officers for showing "commendable conduct and selfless courage".

Det Ch Supt Adrian Green, from Durham Police, said: "It is still unclear what Houlihan's intentions were, but his possession of a firearm in a public place was reckless and frightening to the public and attending police officers."