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Club probe cop's shock death



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Published Date: 19 July 2008
By Amy Burns
A SOUTH YORKSHIRE police officer cleared of a racist attack outside a Sheffield nightclub has died after being found injured on Mount Snowdon.
Pc Anthony Mulhall was captured on CCTV punching a young black woman repeatedly as he tried to arrest her outside a Sheffield nightclub.

He was cleared of any wrongdoing in January following an inquiry by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).

Pc Mulhall was reported missing from his Rotherham home on Wednesday evening.

He was found injured in the National Park in North Wales by mountain rescue teams on Thursday afternoon and rushed to hospital but died at 1.30pm yesterday.

The cause of death has not yet been established.

Pc Mulhall, who served in South Yorkshire for more than 11 years, was investigated over his conduct outside Niche nightclub, on Eyre Street, in July 2006 when he was caught on camera punching 20-year-old Toni Comer eight times as he tried to subdue her.

The footage was made public when Ms Comer, of Errington Crescent, Arbourthorne, appeared in court charged with the criminal damage offence for which Pc Mulhall, aged in his early 40s, arrested her.

He admitted he had resorted to "brute force" against Ms Comer when his attempts to stop her biting, kicking and spitting at him failed.

He also said he hit her "as hard as I am physically able" in order to subdue and handcuff the mum-of-one as she resisted arrest and repeatedly lashed out at officers.

The IPCC investigation cleared officers of any wrongdoing and said an allegation of assault against Pc Mulhall was "unsubstantiated." And the Crown Prosecution Service did not pursue any criminal charges against Pc Mulhall or another officer, also accused of assaulting Miss Comer during the same incident.

Following the allegations, Pc Mulhall was withdrawn from public duty "for his own safety" and to restore public confidence, police said at the time.

But he was never suspended.

Chief Const Meredydd Hughes last night said: "This is terrible news and our condolences go out to his family. Pc Mulhall was highly regarded and will be missed by all his colleagues and friends."

Pc Mulhall is believed to be married to another police officer.

His death comes four months after Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Michael Todd was found dead on Mount Snowdon. The body of the 50-year-old father of two was found covered in snow after an apparent suicide.




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The full article contains 448 words and appears in Sheffield Star newspaper.
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  • Last Updated: 19 July 2008 8:29 AM
  • Source: Sheffield Star
  • Location: Sheffield
 
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taximansam,

19/07/2008 10:44:08
This is tragic. The officer was never charged with anything (and - having seen the full video - I believe he acted with restraint) yet he was hounded. I would be interested to know how much support he got from within the senior ranks.
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cloak&dagger,

19/07/2008 11:43:01
Lets hope that his bosses come under similar pressures when they are investigated (if) to remind them what it is like to be a frontline bobby.
This girl needs to (but no doubt won't) hang her head in shame that he drunken/drug fuelled criminal behaviour ultimately led to the officer taking his life.
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cloak&dagger,

19/07/2008 11:46:57
oh and just to remind you, officers can use as much as force as is reasonable in the circumstances to effect an arrest, something this officer did in accordance with his training. If scum bags intend on taking on the Police, expect force to be used against you. Look at the 2 officers assaulted by a mob of 30 yesterday asking a simple request. Many complain of Police being heavy handed but in reflection the majority of Police force is in reflection of the agressive behaviour displayed by the suspect, don't kick off and no force will be used!
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freedom,

sheffield 19/07/2008 11:48:00
what are you implying coat&dagger?
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Dave Glossop,

19/07/2008 12:21:33
Freedom,

He's implying that there are scum in this country who shield behind the safety of crazy laws to inflict harm and degradation on people who are put on the front line to protect our society!
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cloak&dagger,

19/07/2008 12:32:43
Freedom.... not implying anything - i am stating a fact. People who actively 'kick off' with Police will be dealt with firmly in accordance with training. You aim a gun at a Police Officer and you expect to have one aimed back at you. You punch a Police officer, expect proportionate force to be used against you, ever heard of Botaris Box?
It is a job that carries obvious dangers and I for one have a family that I want to go home to unharmed after work, so if someone kicks off with me, I will look to end the conflict quickly and hopefully with no/minimal injuries on either side. However, I expect that in the course of a fight I or the other party may receive some aches, pains, cuts or bruises, and if it is to be the case I hope it is the other party.
What is the alternative? Say your so n, brother, sister, etc, has just been robbed or assaulted and I see the offender. I go up to him and ask him politely to come to the station. If he does great but what if he decides otherwise and wants confrontation? Would you expect me to say, sorry sir I don't want a fight, walk off and go persecute a motorist? Or would you expect me to use my tactical communications, if that fails effect the arrest and if he kicks off then deal with him appropriately? I guess you would want the latter so justice could be served.
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cloak&dagger,

19/07/2008 12:35:52
the one thing i have forgot to say is......RIP, PC MULHALL
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Yorkshire Rose,

19/07/2008 14:46:11
The police can't win people complain that they don't do enough, then when they do their job correctly and to their best abillity the get slated, it's a no win job. Cloak&dagger you keep doing your job the way you do some people, like me will applaud you. My condolences to PC Mulhall's family, yet another good police constable gone RIP.
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rivets,

sheff 19/07/2008 14:49:08
She won't ba hanging her head in shame because she will be too busy laughing into her stella, kebab and 20 B+H.
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SleepyHead,

19/07/2008 17:32:06
Personally I thought he was a bit heavy-handed with that lass but he certainly didn't deserve the witch-hunt sent after him by the press. I think it's a terrible shame this has happened to his family too - must be terrible for them.

That said - I take issue with some of C&D's points. I still remember the miner's strike and the police actions at Orgreave. I also remember heavy-handed enforcement by the police of stop and search legislation which led to the various 80's inner-city riots. I've also personally been on the end of some officers bad tempers for minding my own business. You mention the Botaris Box - I'd say there are some officers who could do with taking that a little more to heart.

Also - don't you think it's a little juvenile to post stuff about meeting fire with fire on a page about someone's death?
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