Key decisions in Wieambilla siege to be questioned in inquest

The key decisions by Queensland Police and information provided by their NSW counterparts in the lead up to the deadly siege in the Western Downs in December will form part of the coronial inquiry next year.

Constable Rachel McCrow, 26, and Constable Matthew Arnold, 29, were gunned down at the property in the western Darling Downs, about three hours west of Brisbane.

Decision-making by Queensland Police during the critical hours of the deadly siege that resulted in the deaths of two young officers and a good Samaritan in the state’s Western Downs in ­December will form part of the coronial inquiry next year.

A preliminary coronial inquest hearing, overseen by State Coroner Terry Ryan in Brisbane on Thursday, heard police officers Rachel McCrow, 29, and Matthew Arnold, 26, were killed in a spray of gunfire within minutes of entering the remote property of Gareth and Stacey Train at Wieambilla, near Chinchilla, on December 12.

The pair, alongside two other officers, were responding to a NSW missing persons inquiry ­relating to Mr Train’s brother, former school principal Nathaniel Train.

Alan Dare (pictured with his wife).

Local volunteer firefighter and neighbour Alan Dare, 58, was killed within moments of ­approaching to investigate fires deliberately by the Train trio. The three perpetrators were killed around 10.30pm after a stand-off with SERT officers.

Counsel assisting the coroner, Ruth O’Gorman KC, said the Wieambilla tragedy had shocked Queensland.

“Each of the deaths have caused great distress and grief to the family members of those who died,” Ms O’Gorman said. “The number of deaths and the circumstances in which they occurred shocked the Queensland community.”

Investigators previously ­declared the tragedy as a ­religiously-motivated terrorist attack, adding the Trains were ready for an ambush.

Screengrab taken from footage of Gareth Train and Stacey Train posted to a now deleted YouTube channel.

The pre-inquest heard the Trains had no recent criminal ­history.

Nathaniel Train had his Queensland weapons licence suspended for illegally crossing into Queensland in 2021 when border restrictions were in place, and a warrant was out for his arrest in relation to the event.

The mother of slain officer Constable McCrow, Cheryl McCrow; the wife of Mr Dare, Kerry Dare; and the son of Stacey and Nathaniel Train, Aiden Train, were present via video link.

Police investigations are still continuing, with the full inquiry unlikely to be held until early next year.

It will look to uncover how much New South Wales Police knew about the Trains and communicated to their Queensland counterparts, and the motivating factors and influences behind the trio’s actions.

The key decision-making by police including SERT members will also be examined, as well as whether greater protections are needed for officers in rural locations.