Wrongfully jailed man sues Queensland for $2.1m, alleging police officer acted with malice

Former London Metropolitan police officer Eamonn Charles Coughlan was imprisoned for arson and attempted insurance fraud in 2019, but fully exonerated by the high court the following year.

The malicious prosecution claim lodged in the Queensland supreme court alleges Weare made a false statement, communicated inappropriately with witnesses and did not properly disclose evidence.

It says Weare was motivated to lay charges by a complaint of inappropriate behaviour that Coughlan had made about the officer. The documents do not go into detail about that complaint.

During more than seven months detained at the Woodford correctional centre near Brisbane, Coughlan claims he was knocked unconscious by a fellow inmate, stabbed with a needle by an intravenous drug user and denied prescription medication.

The claim says Weare and the state failed to properly disclose evidence to Coughlan. This included a failure to disclose criminal histories of witnesses until shortly before a first aborted trial; and a failure to disclose information about contemporaneous suspected arson incidents on Bribie Island until after the commencement of the third trial.

Coughlan is seeking $2.1m in damages, plus costs and interest. He details significant pain and suffering, psychological harm and damage to his reputation.

The state of Queensland and Weare have yet to file a notice of intention to defend the claim.

Weare was also contacted for comment.