An ITV journalist was ‘mistakenly’ told by police that she was not entitled to her partner’s domestic abuse history weeks before she died, an inquest heard.
Granada Reports news editor Teresa McMahon, 43, was found dead at her flat in Little Hulton, Salford, on August 3, 2021.
Senior Coroner for Inner North London Mary Hassell concluded on Thursday that she ‘died by suicide’ and ‘no other person forced her to do that’.
Ms Hassell added: ‘I don’t have any evidence that any other person physically caused Teresa’s death.’
Ms McMahon had made a Clare’s Law disclosure request on July 12, asking Greater Manchester Police (GMP) to release information about any history of violence or abuse from her former partner Robert Chalmers.
A junior officer ‘mistakenly’ told Ms McMahon on July 21 that she was not entitled to information under Clare’s Law because she was not currently in a relationship with Mr Chalmers, GMP Detective Inspector Charlotte Poole told the inquest.
Discussing the officer’s actions on the July 21 visit, Ms Poole added: ‘It was her mistaken belief that because Teresa said she was not in a relationship anymore and was not going to be, that she wasn’t entitled to that information.’
Greater Manchester Police subsequently tried to get in touch with Ms McMahon on July 22 and July 29 to tell her she might be entitled to the information, but there was no response to their calls.
Granada Reports news editor Teresa McMahon, 43, was found dead at her flat in Little Hulton, Salford, on August 3, 2021
Ms McMahon had made a Clare’s Law disclosure request on July 12, asking Greater Manchester Police (GMP) to release information about any history of violence or abuse from her former partner Robert Chalmers
A junior officer ‘mistakenly’ told Ms McMahon on July 21 that she was not entitled to information under Clare’s Law because she was not currently in a relationship with Mr Chalmers, GMP Detective Inspector Charlotte Poole told the inquest
Ms Poole added that on the July 21 police visit, Ms McMahon had made a ‘complaint of broken fingers and a potentially broken rib but had not sought medical attention for those injuries’ and did not wish to assist in a prosecution of Mr Chalmers.
The GMP officer added: ‘It’s not unusual for domestic abuse victims to not want to assist in a prosecution once they’ve made that report.’
Ms Poole said Mr Chalmers had ‘three logs’ of domestic abuse reports over a number of years.
Mr Chalmers, speaking via video link on Thursday afternoon, accepted their relationship was volatile, but said he did not hurt Ms McMahon physically, nor coerce or control her.
The coroner asked Ms Poole: ‘Did you as a force give consideration to the possibility that Teresa might have killed herself as she was subject to coercive control?’
The officer replied: ‘There was nothing to indicate she was the victim of coercive control.’
Detective Chief Inspector Gareth Humphreys told the inquest that ‘no defence injuries’ were found on Ms McMahon’s body.
He said a journal written by Ms McMahon, seen by police, referred to ‘reasons why she wanted to die’.
Greater Manchester Police subsequently tried to get in touch with Ms McMahon on July 22 and July 29 to tell her she might be entitled to the information
The coroner said the inquest was ‘not a public inquiry into GMP’, adding that the police investigation into Ms McMahon’s death was ‘not perfect’.
In a statement issued after the inquest, Assistant Chief Constable Steph Parker said GMP had ‘addressed concerns raised by the coroner around the benefit of scene photos in non-suspicious circumstances, and clearer retention periods for body-worn video’.
A warrant for Mr Chalmers’ arrest had been issued by the coroner on Thursday morning after he failed to appear in court – with arrangements made for him to give evidence from Bolton Coroners’ Court.
Asked by the coroner if he thought unhappiness with their relationship was a factor in her death, Mr Chalmers, who said he had known Ms McMahon for around 25 years, replied: ‘No.’
Dr Muhammad Bashir, who carried out Ms McMahon’s post-mortem, told the inquest there was no indication anyone else had been involved in her death.
Ms Hassell asked him: ‘So no marks of assault or restraint?’
Dr Bashir, a consultant at Salford Royal Hospital, replied: ‘No, there were none.’
Ms McMahon’s father, Bernard, said he thought her death was the ‘tragic combination of being in a bad relationship, drinking too much alcohol and suffering depression’.
Detective Chief Inspector Gareth Humphreys told the inquest that ‘no defence injuries’ were found on Ms McMahon’s body
In a written statement read out to court, Mr McMahon, who was unable to give oral evidence because of health difficulties, said: ‘Before her death, I used to look for any signs of abuse. There were none at all.
‘Yes, there was screaming, shouting and threats made between them both, but I don’t believe there was any physical abuse or controlling behaviour.’
Mr McMahon said he had known Mr Chalmers for years and did not approve of their relationship as ‘he had a reputation from years ago as being a tough nut’.
He described his daughter as ‘driven’ and ‘very generous’, adding that her ‘wit and sassiness were unbelievable’.
Teresa’s aunt, Lorna McMahon, told the court her brother was ‘not a credible witness’ and ‘was lying’, adding he was ‘friends with Robert Chalmers for many years’.
In his statement, Mr McMahon said his sister thought there was ‘something sinister’ with Teresa’s death and had claimed he was ‘intimidated and grieving’.
He added: ‘I am grieving, but I’m not intimidated.
‘I’m certainly not being intimidated by anyone into providing this information. I strongly disagree with Lorna’s views.
‘Lorna had no contact with Teresa for several years before her death and doesn’t know her like I do.’
Lorna said she last saw Teresa in person in 2018 when she visited London, and they had contact on social media ‘from time to time’.
A written statement from Lorna, from September 27 2021, read out to the court said: ‘I’ve been told that she broke a rib, that she tried to get information via Clare’s Law.
‘That she said Robert was a true monster, that she made allegations he’d been violent with other people, that police had told her he was ‘a dangerous man’.’
Detective Constable Max Baimak said in a statement, read out to the inquest, that there were ‘no malicious or threatening communications between Teresa and Robert’.
He added that Teresa had messaged Robert on August 2, writing: ‘I wish I was dead.’
In another message she wrote: ‘I’ve got nothing. I’ve never felt so worthless,’ with Mr Chalmers later replying: ‘You have and do so much Teresa.’
He also messaged ‘Hope you’re ok Teresa’ and ‘Let me know you’re ok’.
The inquest was opened on August 10 2021 by the coroner for Manchester West, and was transferred to Inner North London by the Chief Coroner earlier this year.
The senior coroner for Manchester West recused himself in case there was a perception of bias because of the employment of a family member, the inquest heard.
