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Cops raided home of military couple for ‘child abuse images’ just 4 days before they killed themselves

2021-07-03 00:00:00.0 太阳报-英国新闻原网页

COPS raided the home of a military couple for child abuse images just four days before they died in a double suicide.

Deborah McGuinness, 49, and husband Peter, 54, were found dead in a car at a remote beauty spot near Swanage in Dorset.

Deborah McGuinness, 49, and her ex-soldier husband Peter, 54, were found dead in a car at a remote beauty spot

A suicide note found next to their bodies said, “neither of us can be without the other,” a joint inquest heard.

It has now emerged the couple were "assisting police" with a probe into child abuse images.

PC Vicky Currie told the inquest she visited colleagues from the Metropolitan Police Online Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation team on July 29 - four days before they died.

She said: "In the morning I went to the home address. I had no previous contact with them. They were assisting police with their enquiries.

"They were both spoken to together on the day and both of them seemed fine, happy and were joking with us.

"When we left I had no concerns and they didn't mention anything to us or any mental health going on, both were completely fine when we left the address."

The couple were part of an investigation into child abuse images

The Met Police confirmed they carried out a search of the house in Kingston, South West London, as part of the investigation into the "sharing of indecent images of children".

They said no arrests were made and a "number of devices" were seized from the property.

A spokesperson added: "This investigation was ongoing at the time of their death.

"As is usual after a death following police contact, a referral was made to the Met's Directorate of Professional Standards and the IOPC. No misconduct issues were identified."

Deborah worked as a personal assistant to three heads of the Army while Iraq war veteran Peter served 22 years in the Army.

On August 2 last year, the couple threw a Mexican themed fancy dress party at their home for friends.

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Baffled pals told the hearing Deborah and Peter appeared to be enjoying themselves and nothing was "amiss".

But the next day, their bodies were discovered in a Range Rover along with cards containing money and poignant messages to family members.

Their dead cat was also found in the footwell of the rented car.

The inquest was told they had researched wills online two weeks before they took their lives.

Peter had talked about taking his life after suffering from depression but Deborah, who had been given the all clear from cancer five months before she died, had no history of mental illness.

Dorset Coroner Rachael Griffin recorded a verdict of suicide.

She said: "It is very clear to me that Debs and Peter were devoted to each other and were popular, hardworking and social people.