Qld police officer who shot criminal’s scrotum sues state for $1.4m for PTSD

A police constable who shot a criminal in the scrotum during a bungled routine arrest is suing the state government for $1.4m.

Queensland Police Constable Diane Dorothy Squires. Picture: Dan Peled

A police constable who shot a criminal in the scrotum during a bungled routine arrest six years ago is suing the state government for $1.4m claiming its negligence caused her post traumatic stress disorder and cut her career short.

Diane Dorothy Squires fired four shots at Daniel White-Mayne on January 22, 2017, when she was trying to arrest him at 1am in the underground carpark of the Solaire Apartments in Surfers Paradise.

One shot hit White-Mayne in the thigh and scrotum, another shot hit his foot and two others missed, according to evidence heard at White-Mayne’s trial for attempted murder.

He fired a single shot at the now 55-year-old Squires and was acquitted of attempted murder but convicted of the alternate charge of attempted striking to resist arrest.

Former Gold Coast lawyer Briana Ioannides, now in prison for drug trafficking, and then-defacto partner Daniel White-Mayne. Picture: Facebook

White-Mayne claimed he was “just trying to scare” Squires “so he could get away”.

White-Mayne was in a defacto relationship with former Gold Coast lawyer Briana Ioannides at the time, and police alleged he shot at police to protect Ioannides who was upstairs in the apartment block at the time.

Ioannides has not been charged and is not accused of any wrongdoing over the incident.

Squires filed a damages claim against the state in the Supreme Court in Brisbane on June 27, where she alleges the state “admitted liability for the shooting incident” and admits the “shooting incident occurred as a consequence of the negligence and/or breach of contract” by the state.

She alleges the state breached its duty to take reasonable care for her safety, and to instruct her and her colleagues on safe methods to work.

Ms Squires was medically retired from the force on May 21, 2021, and she has been diagnosed with a major depressive disorder, PTSD and a lumbar spine injury, the claim states.

She is claiming total damages of $1,424,059 including loss of past income of $336,254 calculated on $1500 net per week.

Police at the Solaire Apartments underground carpark where Daniel White-Mayne was shot during a botched arrest. Picture: David Clark

She says that despite being skilled, trained and experienced to work as a police officer, she has been unable to continue working for the QPS “due to … personal injuries and psychiatric” consequences of the shooting.

This also includes a claim for loss of future income of $623,107 based on earnings of $1750 net per week for the next four years in the QPS until the mandatory retirement age of 60, and then for working for seven years until age 67 as a security guard earning $1500 per week.

She is also claiming $50,000 for the future cost of inpatient admission to a mental health unit.

The case is in its early stages and the state is not yet required to file a defence.
Mr White-Mayne sued the state for damages in the District Court last year and the case remains on foot.

Originally published as Qld police officer who shot criminal’s scrotum sues state for $1.4m for PTSD