At an inquest into the deaths of an elderly couple, it was suggested that police should have detained the assailant hours earlier.
According to a police officer, on the day of the murders, he and his partner were asked to look for a naked man near Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry.
In May 2017, Michael and Marjorie Cawdery were fatally shot in their Portadown residence.
Thomas Scott McEntee received a prison term of at least 10 years.
The naked McEntee was being restrained by colleagues when PSNI Constable Kenmure, of the Newtownhamilton station, arrived on the scene, according to his statement.
Another police officer punched McEntee to hold him down, according to prior testimony given at the inquest.
Constable Kenmure reported on Monday, the sixth day of the inquest, that "three female hospital staff members came to talk to him.".
One person was dressed. He had closed eyes and was unresponsive.
"I watched as a paramedic attended to his wounds. A paramedic and a member of the mental health staff overheard saying they were going to Craigavon. ".
In his testimony at the inquest, Constable Kenmure claimed that he and Constable McDermott's car had lagged behind.
"We spoke to the paramedic when we arrived in Craigavon," he said. "Mr. McEntee was already dressed at this point. The paramedic informed us when we got back in the car that they did not require any additional help. ".
Shortly after, McEntee left the Craigavon hospital's emergency room waiting area and walked outside the building before arriving at the Cawderys' house.
Constable Kenmure was told that the police ought to have taken more action.
Attorney Thomas Fitzpatrick said, "You ought to have detained him in accordance with Article 130.".
"You must take him to a safe location if you invoke 130. There is no safety in an ambulance. The ambulance was unable to transmit information because it lacked some of it. You claimed to have deferred to the mental health staff, but you omitted to consult with them on whether releasing him would be risk-free. ".
When asked by Coroner Maria Dougan if he would have used Article 130 if he had known the future repercussions, the constable replied: "Yes. " .
Later, Constable Kenmure continued, "I thought what I did was the right thing, but it's hard to think you could have changed things. I often reflect on it. It's not about me, though, obviously.
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