Black teen wins landmark case against Met Police after being wrongly arrested over mum's suicide attempt, with 'up to £130,000 damages' expected
“I have waited a long time for this vindication," Daryl McLune said
A young Black man who was wrongly arrested after his mother jumped from a block of flats has won a race discrimination case against the Metropolitan Police.
Daryl McLune was just 16 when officers arrested him on suspicion of attempting to murder his mother, Annette McLune, following the incident in south London in July 2021.
Following a trial at Central London County Court, jurors found that Daryl had been unlawfully arrested and subjected to race discrimination by the Metropolitan Police.
The jury also concluded that the treatment he received amounted to inhuman and degrading treatment, in breach of his human rights.
Daryl said: “I am pleased and grateful to the jury for considering my case so carefully and for reaching the decision that they have.
“I have waited a long time for this vindication and whilst I will never forget these events, having the jury confirm I should never have been arrested will, I hope, help me to try to move on and recover from this incident.”
Damages are reportedly expected to total as much as £130,000, making the case one of the most significant recent findings of racial discrimination against the force.
The case centred on events that unfolded after Daryl rushed home following an urgent call from his father.
On arrival, he found his mother critically injured outside the family’s block of flats and officers handcuffed him in front of neighbours before taking him to Wandsworth Police Station, where he was detained overnight.
This was the first time that Daryl had been detained by the police, according to his lawyers.
During his detention, Daryl repeatedly sought information about his mother’s condition but was not told whether she was alive or dead.
Attempting to defend officers’ actions, the Met Police claimed that they did their “best” during an “uncertain situation” and Daryl seemed to be in an “angry and hostile” mood, while acting “aggressively” towards his father.
The jury rejected the police’s justification for arresting the child, finding that they had acted unlawfully and that race discrimination played a role in their treatment of him.
The verdict marks the end of a legal battle that has lasted almost five years.
The court heard that the experience had a profound impact on his life. Once a committed student, Daryl struggled in the aftermath of the incident and eventually dropped out of education.
His legal team argued that the trauma of witnessing his mother’s injuries was compounded by the actions of police officers who treated him as a suspect rather than a vulnerable teenager in crisis.
Megan Phillips, a partner at Bhatt Murphy Solicitors, who represented Daryl, said the case raised serious questions about racism in policing.
“This case shows the true face of two-tier policing in this country, where a young Black teenager can be unlawfully arrested for the attempted murder of his own mother, in circumstances where the court has found that the officers did not genuinely suspect him of committing any offence and where their behaviour was infected by race discrimination.
“Daryl was a child in crisis who should have been offered support as he suffered the shock and grief of seeing his mother fighting for her life with catastrophic injuries. Instead, he was wrongly treated as a suspect because of his race.”
Daryl’s mum, who the court heard had been “in a dark place” before her suicide attempt, reportedly survived but had to learn to walk and talk again.
The Met Police has faced repeated criticism in recent years over allegations of institutional racism and discriminatory policing practices.
The force was labelled institutionally racist, misogynistic and homophobic in the 2023 Casey Review, which examined its culture and standards.
The court will now determine the level of compensation to be awarded to Daryl, with a decision expected at a later date.
If you are experiencing feelings of sadness, distress or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website
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