An emergency services operator who took a call about gunshots from a Wieambilla resident did not examine a nearby incident report that would have revealed the deaths of two police officers for fear of getting in trouble for “snooping”, a coroner has heard.
Alan Dare, 58, ultimately became the third victim of a shooting massacre at 251 Wains Road, on 12 December 2022, at the hands of conspiracy theorists Gareth, Nathaniel and Stacey Train.
He was shot minutes after his wife, Kerry Dare, rang triple zero. Kerry previously told the Queensland inquest she would have called her husband back to the house if she had been told about the shooting of two police officers when she called the emergency line.
Police communications operator Emma Donald appeared at day six of the coronial inquest, led by state coroner Terry Ryan, on Monday. She was not initially scheduled to be called as a witness.
Kerry Dare called triple zero at 5.13pm to report gunshots, explosions and a fire at 251 Wains Road, and told Donald her husband, Alan, was heading over to check it out.
Donald told Kerry Dare on the call she “absolutely advised against” attending the property but there is no evidence Alan Dare heard this warning.
Donald told the inquest she was aware of a “police in trouble” incident at a property across the road while speaking to Kerry Dare but did not access more information.
Donald was not aware that about 45 minutes before Kerry called triple zero, constables Matthew Arnold and Rachel McCrow had been shot dead at the neighbouring property while serving an arrest warrant for Nathaniel Train, who had also been reported missing in New South Wales.
Donald told the coroner on Monday that she could see a sign flashing on her screen which read “repeat”, indicating there was a second report at the scene. She clicked it and her screen displayed “police in trouble”.
Widow of Wieambilla shooting victim Alan Dare calls triple zero at 5.13pm
“Once you’ve seen that police in trouble notification, do you have the option to click in to find out more details?” counsel assisting Ruth O’Gorman asked her on Monday.
Widow of Wieambilla shooting victim Alan Dare calls triple zero at 5.17pm
“We do but at that time didn’t know if it was related or not [to the fire]. We’d been told in our training that if we look into a job that isn’t related we’d most likely get in trouble for it because it’s technically snooping,” Donald said.
after newsletter promotion
“I didn’t click into it.”
Donald told the coroner on Monday that she did not find out until 5.28pm that the incident next to the Dares involved “active offenders shooting at police”.
The triple-zero incident log showed Donald called Kerry Dare back at 5.30pm and was told “someone shot my husband”.
Donald said she stayed on the phone with Dare for 30 minutes to ensure she had reached “a place of safety”.
Alan Dare was using his phone to film a burning police vehicle at the front gate of the Trains’ property when an unknown member of that family fatally shot him in the chest.
Timeline
Wieambilla shootings
Show
Nathaniel Train reported missing to NSW police. There is also a warrant out for his arrest on firearms charges. This is referred to the Queensland Police.
Gareth is informed by email about the missing person’s report and responds with a message including anti-police comments.
Job assigned to Chinchilla police, who seek assistance from Tara police. Four police travel to the property.
4.35pm
Constables Matthew Arnold, Rachel McCrow, Randall Kirk and Keely Brough arrive at 251 Wains Road, Wieambilla.
4.37pm
Nathaniel Train shoots constable Arnold dead from a prepared ambush position, known as a “hide”.
4.46pm
Constable McCrow, who had been wounded by rifle fire, is shot dead at close range by Gareth Train. She pleads for her life.
5.30pm
Civilian Alan Dare killed by a gunshot to the torso from an unknown Train after going to the property to fight a fire. Wife Kelly is not told of the shooting incident during a 000 call.
5.30pm
Police issue public service preservation act warning for the Wieambilla area, banning civilian movement.
6.37pm
Constable Brough rescued by uniformed police extraction team. They also remove bodies of McCrow and Arnold, but not Dare.
7.40pm
Police Special Emergency Response Team arrive and take over the police inner cordon.
10.39pm
Last of the Trains, Nathaniel, is killed by operators from the police Special Emergency Response Team. Massacre ends.
The inquest has previously heard Alan Dare was killed at about 5.30pm.
Gareth Train, his wife, Stacey Train, and Nathaniel Train were shot dead six hours later by specialist police after they refused to negotiate, and opened fire on police helicopters and an armoured vehicle.
In response to cross-examination from Kerry Dare’s barrister, Donald said she had not received additional training since the Wieambilla shootings.
