The fatal ambush of police in Wieambilla was not an act of terrorism but rather the result of the shooters’ shared delusion that they were experiencing the end of days, a coroner has found.

The findings were branded “disappointing” by the families of the officers involved, almost three years after their tragic death.

Brothers Nathaniel, 46, and Gareth Train, 47, used high-powered rifles to gun down Constables Matthew Arnold, 26, and Rachel McCrow, 29, at a rural property west of Brisbane on December 12, 2022.

They joined Gareth Train’s wife Stacey, 45, to also fatally shoot 58-year-old neighbour Alan Dare.

Queensland state coroner Terry Ryan on Friday delivered his findings in Brisbane after an inquest last year heard expert evidence that the Trains engaged in terrorism that was religiously motivated by their extreme Christian beliefs.

Constables Matthew Arnold and Rachel McCrow were shot in cold blood by the Trains.

Ryan said he accepted psychiatric expert evidence in regards to the Trains’ motives, saying the trio suffered from a “shared delusional disorder”.

“They were psychotically unwell and driven by their beliefs.”

But Ryan said it was not possible to conclude the Trains committed a terrorist act under definition of the Commonwealth criminal code.

In a statement read outside the court, the families of Constable’s McCraw and Arnold said they were disappointed with the recommendations, but would take time to read the report and respond appropriately. 

“Delivered just 21 days before the third anniversary of the murderous ambush on December the 12th, 2022, [the coroner’s] recommendations have triggered emotional pain and stress from the outset,” they said.

“We’ve stressed any coronial recommendation must prevent a tragedy like this happening again and we are initially disappointed with the coronial recommendations, but we need time to read, process and respond to the findings and ensure that as families, our concerns and issues that were raised during this process have been listened to and respected.”

Ryan found a Christian premillennialism faith in the end of times had become central to the Trains’ belief system but it was underpinned by broad psychiatric issues.

“Their beliefs – although wrong – presented extreme danger to any police who attended their property,” he said.

“They believed the government was evil and that police officers were demons intent on killing them.”

All three Trains were shot dead by specialist police officers hours later after refusing to negotiate or surrender.

Ryan found Queensland’s Special Emergency Response Team acted appropriately in its use of lethal force during a protracted shootout that lasted more than an hour.

“The Trains were intent on killing police officers and intent on dying rather than being taken into custody,” he said.

The Trains fortified their property and wanted to kill any police officer that entered rather than influence or intimidate the Queensland government, Ryan said.

Arnold and McCrow had gone to the remote property with fellow Constables Randall Kirk and Keely Brough on behalf of NSW police.

They where checking on the whereabouts of Nathaniel Train, who had been reported missing from his state primary school principal job in northern NSW.

Kirk and Brough narrowly escaped being killed by the Trains.

Ryan found NSW Police did not pass on all the information in their computer system to Queensland Police when requesting assistance.

“I accept evidence given by witnesses from NSW and Queensland that in policing, more information is always better,” he said.

“The Queensland officers would have the opportunity for a more complete risk assessment.

“The officers who did attend [Wieambilla] were denied that opportunity.”

However, Ryan could not find that Queensland police would have conclusively done anything differently if they had more information from NSW police about Gareth Train’s threatening behaviour and beliefs.

He also recommended that Queensland police review an expanded use of drones for gathering information about remote properties.

Ryan also called for Queensland to consider mandatory mental health assessments for people applying for firearms licences as at least some of the guns and ammunition used at Wieambilla were lawfully obtained.

-With AAP