The policeman who allegedly threw tear gas into a dorm at the Armadale Juvenile Correctional Centre in St Ann has denied hurling the object inside the building which caught fire, killing seven wards in May.

Constable Lawrence Burrell, who was cross-examined at the commission of enquiry into the Armadale fire yesterday, said he had a "tear gas bummin' ball" on his person but that he did not throw it into the dorm housing 23 wards.

On Monday, Lucille Hamilton, who was the first witness to be called, told the enquiry that she saw two girls running towards her with mucus on their faces and rubbing their eyes. Hamilton claimed that one girl told her the police threw tear gas at them. Carlene Coleman, the second witness, also testified that she saw Burrell with an army-green object which he later hurled inside the building before the fire started. She reiterated this point at the enquiry yesterday.

Tear gas a no no

However, Burrell was adamant that he did not discharge the tear gas, and had taken it up "casually" when he was going to Armadale. Having conceded that the use of tear gas would be force and that the police should refrain from force in the line of duty to minimise damage, Burrell said he would never throw tear gas into a room knowing the effects and with knowledge that he would have to go into that room.

Burrell explained that while he was trying to push some of the wards back through a window to prevent them from escaping, one girl attempted to hit him in his head with a piece of iron. He said one ward threw a black book at him, and he heard someone cry out behind him after he dodged it. At this point, Burrell said the lights were immediately switched off inside the dorm and he saw someone light something and drop it on a bed. He said he shouted "fire!" and asked for the keys to the door.

Wards lamented

Under cross-examination from Jacqueline Samuels-Brown, who is representing the Office of the Children's Advocate, Dunkley said that after the fire, she heard the girls complaining about tear gas being thrown into the building, but said she did not hear anyone complain about the effects of tear gas, which induced vomiting and a burning sensation on the skin. She said that after the fire, some of the wards lamented that their own colleague had caused the incident.

However, Dunkley later told a representative from the Ministry of National Security that one girl asked to sit in the air conditioner in the police jeep as her skin was "on fire".

During yesterday's proceedings, Howard Hamilton, who represents the Office of the Public Defender, was also granted permission to act on behalf of the parents of the wards after a stay was put on questions on Monday. The enquiry is scheduled to resume today at 10 a.m. when the correctional officers will be cross-examined.

kimesha.walters@gleanerjm.com