Stephen McCarthy

Stephen McCarthy
Born	1951 Islington, London
Died	26 January 1971 (Age 19) Brook Hospital, Greenwich

Stephen McCarthy was one of sixteen children born to Irish parents Christy and Biddy McCarthy in Islington, north London.

In November 1970, Stephen McCarthy was arrested in Upper Street, Islington, by two policemen who were alleged to have banged his head against a lamppost. He died two months later of head injuries he sustained.

Worthy of a Stanley Kubrick film

The story of the death of Stephen McCarthy is so bizarre that one would be forgiven for thinking it was a Stanley Kubrick film.

In late 1969, an 18-year-old youth was arrested and charged with taking and driving away a car. He was found guilty and sent to Borstal, from where he escaped four months later. In November 1970 he was re-arrested and brutally beaten by the police. Two months later young Stephen McCarthy died.

Due to the courageous stand of the McCarthy family in their uncompromising search for justice it has become only too clear that Stephen McCarthy was murdered. He died as a direct result of police brutality and medical negligence in prison.

Stephen's murderers have been well protected by the rest of the state. This whole case has been one cover up after another by the entire state machine.

The Metropolitan Police have consistently tried to intimidate the McCarthy family into silence. But they have been unsuccessful.

Met's brutal arrest

In November 1970, Stephen was arrested in Upper Street by PCs Leonard and Kilshaw. It was due to their brutality that the family came to hear of the arrest several days later. By then the account of how Stephen's head had been beaten against a bus stop by the police, resulting in eight stitches, was being spoken about all over Islington.

The family immmediately went to Islington police station to enquire about Stephen. They were told that he had received his injuries as a result of "running into a bus stop while trying to evade arrest."

Over a week later they saw Stephen for the first time since his arrest when he appeared at Old Street Court looking very ill.

In the cells he told his sister how he had been deaf in one ear since the arrest, how his arm was stiff and very painful and that he was receiving no medical treatment whatsoever.

On January 14th Stephen failed to appear at the Inner London Sessions because of illness. The family were told by Borstal that it was nothing to worry about.

The very next day Stephen was rushed to hospital with a suspected mastoid. He was immediately transferred to a neurology hospital for an emergency brain operation.

Four days later on January 26th Stephen died.

Coroner dictates

On 19th February the inquest was held. The two murderers, Leonard and Kilshaw, were the guests of honour. They were allowed to remain in court throughout the proceedings , while the McCarthy witnesses were only allowed in to give evidence. The coroner wouldn't allow doctors from either of the hospitals attending Stephen, or his probation officer, to attend. No doubt these witnesses would not lie the way that the medical officer from Wormwood Scrubs would, who was called.

The Coroner advised the jury to return a verdict of death by natural causes and to throw out the charges of manslaughter and murder.

After receiving the verdict he had asked for, he had the audacity to turn to the family and said he hoped that justice had been done.

Arresting demonstrators

On 15th February the McCarthy family held a public meeting at Islington Town Hall. By now it had become clear that there was not going to be any justice from the state, and the only way the facts would become known, was if the people themselves held an inquiry. The meeting ended with a demonstration to the police station protesting at the fascist murder of Stephen McCarthy.

The police in their desperation to cover up the whole affair, brutally attacked the demonstration. They made 17 arrests, including 4 of the McCarthy family, one of whom had to spend the night in hospital as a result of the injuries he received at the hands of the police. Stephen's brother and sister-in-law were arrested later that night driving home, they were charged with assaulting the police.

London Alliance demands

We, in the London Alliance, support the family's just demand for an independent inquiry into to the murder of Stephen McCarthy. We demand the truth be told and the murderers brought to trial.

We demand an end to police brutality. The people will no longer stand by quietly and allow the fascist thug police on orders from their masters, to brutalise the people.

We pledge our complete support to the courageous McCarthy family and join with them and all justice loving people in demanding that the death of Stephen McCarthy and all the other victims of the Nazi police be avenged!

Chronology of events

The chronology of events is perhaps the most telling part of this grim tale:

1969

• 25 November: Stephen appeared at Old Street charged with taking and driving away.

• 10 December: Stephen sentenced to borstal training and sent to Wormwood Scrubs.

1970

• February: Stephen allocated to Guy's Marsh Borstal near Shaftesbury in Dorset.

• April: Absconded from Guy's Marsh.

• Mid-October: P.C. Leonard involved in fight with youths in Chapel Market. One of the youths is said to have looked like Stephen.

• 16 November: Stephen arrested in Upper Street, Islington by Police Constables Leonard and Kilshaw.

• 24 November: Stephen appeared at Old Street, looking very sick. He was committed to Inner London Sessions.

• 25 November: McCarthy family wrote to the Governor of Wormwood Scrubs to enquire about Stephen's condition as they were very worried.

• 26 November: McCarthy family wrote to The Sun newspaper. The reply was that there was little chance of success in a complaint as Stephen was a borstal boy.

• 7 December: Probation officer expressed concern at Stephen's condition.

• 8 December: Reply from Assistant-Governor of Wormwood Scrubs that Stephen was "fit and cheerful".

• 11 December: McCarthy family received notification that Stephen had arrived at Dover Borstal on 8th December.

• 12 December: McCarthy family wrote to the Daily Express, who, in their reply, advised them to contact the National Council for Civil Liberties. The NCCL were sympathetic, but, so far, have made no impact on the authorities.

• 20 December: McCarthy family visited Stephen at Dover. He was still not at all well, though the doctor said that he was much improved.

1971

• 10 January: Stephen's sister and her boy-friend visited him and found his condition was very poor indeed.

• 14 January: Stephen failed to appear at Inner London Sessions because of illness.

• 15 January: Telephone call from Governor of Dover that Stephen had been admitted to Folkestone Hospital with suspected mastoiditis.

• 16 January: Stephen transferred to Brook Hospital, Woolwich, a neurology hospital. Immediately on his arrival, he was taken to the operating theatre. His family was told that, the following day, he would be feeling much better. Later that night they received an urgent message to return at once as Stephen had taken a turn for the worse. Letter written to Home Office.

• 22 January: McCarthys made official complaint to Scotland Yard. Three police appeared at Brook Hospital, where Stephen was in a coma. They demanded to see witnesses. Newspapers, who enquired at Scotland Yard both on 22nd and 23rd of January, were told that no complaint had been made.

• 26 January 1971: Stephen died.

• 29 January: Inquest opened and adjourned until 19th February.

• 2 February: The newspapers finally took up the story.

• 3 February: Stephen's funeral, at St Patrick's Cemetery in Leytonstone, filmed by BBC 24 Hours.

• 19 February: Inquest.

• 25 February: Verdict: "Death by natural causes."

• 15 March: John Grant, MP, asked Home Secretary for public enquiry.

• 20 March: Public meeting at Islington Town Hall. Police attacked demonstrators, and arrested 17, including 4 McCarthys. John McCarthy sent to hospital for treatment of injuries received.

• May: Richard Sharpies, MP, on behalf of Home Secretary, Reginald Maudling, finally replied to John Grant attempting, in bureaucratic jargon, to explain away the need for an inquiry.

• 3 July: The Ombudsman was asked to investigate and agreed.

• 24 July: Chris, Derek and Dorothy McCarthy were all convicted by magistrate Neil McElligott. Derek got 6 months prison.

• August: Benefit dance to raise cash for Stephen McCarthy campaign.

• September: Ombudsman decided not to continue his enquiry, because of McCarthys' intent to sue the police and Home Office.

• 8 October: Thames Television programme on neglect in prison abandoned after Home Office refusal to send a spokesman.

• 9 October: Joint benefit with Ian Purdie and Jake Prescott Defence Group.

• 28 October: Derek, Dorothy and Chris appeal to Inner London Sessions. They were blackmailed by their lawyers into keeping quiet.

McCarthy booklet

"Who Killed Stephen McCarthy?" is a small booklet (price 10p) available from:

The McCarthy Committee,

50 Courteney Court,

Holloway,

London N7

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