Michael Atherton

 Michael Atherton disliked his girlfriend's sister, Alison Turnbull and blamed her for his arrest in 2008 following a family row. On New Years eve he had gone out saying that she should not be there later the next day,, unfortunately she arrived at the house before he had left.

Sunday 1st January 2012, 42-year-old Michael Atherton shot his partner, Susan McGoldrick aged-47, he also shot her sister Allison Turnball aged-44, and Ms Turnball's daughter Tanya Turnball aged-24, before turning the gun on himself.

Three others  managed to escape, including 19-year-old  Laura McGoldrick, who escaped from an upstairs bedroom window, she suffered minor injuries. This all happened at Atherton's family home in Horden, near Peterlee, County Durham

Police confirmed the murder weapon was a shotgun, legally owned by Atherton, and registered on his firearms certificate.

Durham Police said that Mr Atherton had been out drinking locally in the hours leading up to the shootings at the house in Greenside Avenue.
       

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Michael Atherton
AKA
DOB1969
OccupationTaxi Driver
Kill Total3
Kill PlaceHordem, Co. Durham
Kill Date1 Jan 2012
M.O.Stabbing
VictimSusan McGoldrick
Allison Turnball
Tanya Turnball
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