TRIPLE killer Michael Atherton’s deep-rooted hatred for his partner’s sister caused a huge argument minutes before the massacre, an inquest heard.
Just 30 minutes before his shooting spree, Atherton, 42, texted his partner Susan McGoldrick, 47 – who was out with her sister – offering to stay out for the night rather than risk confrontation.
But the 42-year-old shot his partner, her sister Alison Turnbull, 44, and Alison’s daughter, Tanya Turnbull, 24, before he killed himself in Greenside Avenue, Horden, on New Year’s Day 2012.
The inquest into the deaths heard Atherton, who had arrests for domestic violence dating back 10 years, had a deep-rooted dislike for Alison Turnbull, after he blamed her for his arrest after a family row at his home in 2008.
The sisters and other family members had been out to a rugby club without Atherton, and he grew angry when his son Mick told him they were out together.
He told his son there would be “trouble” if Mrs Turnbull turned up at his house with the others.
Rather than face a confrontation with Ms Turnbull, he offered to stay the night at a local hotel.
Minutes after 11pm, Atherton texted his partner: “Our Mick says you are with your Ali. Going to stop at the Lodge. Ain’t spending a night in the cells. See you tomorrow.”
But Mrs McGoldrick’s party arrived home in a taxi before Atherton left, and his partner accused him of assaulting her earlier that night. A row broke out, and when Atherton went out of the back door, those present believed he was leaving for the night. But he returned with one of his shotguns that he had prepared for an early shoot with friends the next morning.
He shot his partner from a distance of one metre in the kitchen, the inquest heard.
Atherton then shot Tanya Turnbull twice, causing fatal injuries.
His last victim was Alison Turnbull, who was returning from the toilet, and appeared to have tried to avoid the blast by ducking.
At some point Atherton reloaded the weapon, which could take three cartridges, and shot himself in the head.
The hearing also saw survivor Laura McGoldrick break down in tears as the weapon used to kill her mother and other family members was demonstrated in court by a firearms expert.
Firearms expert Pc Mark Outhwaite produced the camouflaged shotgun – one of six weapons legally owned by Atherton – and showed coroner Andrew Tweddle how it could be reloaded within moments.
* The hearing continues.