Republican News · Thursday 16 May 2002

Irishman's family awarded £250,000

The High Court in London on Monday awarded damages of £324,000 to the family of Kerry-born market trader Richard O'Brien, who was "unlawfully killed" by British police, but the victim's relatives received no apology.

O'Brien died of postural asphyxia after he was held down by London Metropolitan police offciers after a disturbance at a christening in London in April 1994. He suffered injuries in 31 areas, including 12 cuts to the head.

"He was put on the ground with officers holding him in a position which can only be described as dangerous, and after 15 minutes or so on the ground with officers applying their weight to his body he died," Simon Taylor, counsel for O'Brien's widow, Alison O'Brien, told the court. A 1995 inquest classed the death as an unlawful killing, but subsequent manslaughter proceedings against three officers resulted in acquittals. In July 2000, judgement was entered against the Metropolitan Police under the British Fatal Accident Act. Scotland Yard fought the case all the way and failed to apologise at any stage, despite the unlawful killing verdict.

The Irish in Britain Representation Group (IBRG) welcomed the court decision and called on police and local authorities to "begin to learn the lessons of this and other cases involving Irish people and treat members of our community with respect and dignity".