18 December 1997 Edition
Man dies after RUC beating
The mother of 37-year-old Martin Murphy believes that a severe beating by the RUC may have contributed to the untimely death of her son.
Father of two Martin Murphy left his mother's house one Sunday evening during July to walk the short distance to his Ardoyne home. ``Martin was a harmless wee fella, with a bit of a drink problem,'' says Rita Murphy. ``There was rioting on the road that night but I knew Martin would never be involved.''
In the early hours of the morning, Rita was woken by neighbours who told her Martin had been badly beaten by the RUC. ``Martin was taken to hospital with extensive bruising to his back, legs and face.''
Later that week Martin appeared at a Belfast press conference and his injuries were photographed by the international media.
``Martin never recovered,'' says his mother, ``he was admitted into hospital several times, the wounds on his legs never healed and a district nurse attended him for several weeks.''
Three months after the beating, on October 22, Martin Murphy died. Initially the cause of death was recorded as pneumonia. His body was brought to the house on the Thursday at around 6pm. Three hours later the RUC arrived and took his body away again. ``The RUC said they wanted to do an autopsy because they were concerned that they might be blamed for Martin's death.'' The Murphy family have placed the details of Martin's death in the hands of a solicitor. ``We'll just have to wait and see now, but as a mother I know my son was never the same after that beating,'' Rita Murphy says.
Father of two Martin Murphy left his mother's house one Sunday evening during July to walk the short distance to his Ardoyne home. ``Martin was a harmless wee fella, with a bit of a drink problem,'' says Rita Murphy. ``There was rioting on the road that night but I knew Martin would never be involved.''
In the early hours of the morning, Rita was woken by neighbours who told her Martin had been badly beaten by the RUC. ``Martin was taken to hospital with extensive bruising to his back, legs and face.''
Later that week Martin appeared at a Belfast press conference and his injuries were photographed by the international media.
``Martin never recovered,'' says his mother, ``he was admitted into hospital several times, the wounds on his legs never healed and a district nurse attended him for several weeks.''
Three months after the beating, on October 22, Martin Murphy died. Initially the cause of death was recorded as pneumonia. His body was brought to the house on the Thursday at around 6pm. Three hours later the RUC arrived and took his body away again. ``The RUC said they wanted to do an autopsy because they were concerned that they might be blamed for Martin's death.'' The Murphy family have placed the details of Martin's death in the hands of a solicitor. ``We'll just have to wait and see now, but as a mother I know my son was never the same after that beating,'' Rita Murphy says.