BOMBALA’S police officers and residents have come together to remember First Class Constable Stanley Peter McInerney who was killed in Bombala in May, 1958.
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Constable McInerney’s death was reported on the front page of the Bombala Times on Friday, May 30, 1958 under the heading ‘Tragic Occurrence – Young Local Policeman Dies After Body Blow’.
It read: One of the most tragic and regrettable happenings in Bombala’s history occurred on Saturday night, when a popular young Police Officer, 1st-Class Constable Stanley Peter McInerney, died after being struck by a young man who had been apprehended in the street and taken to the police station.
Deceased was 36 years of age, married, with three small children.
We understand that shortly after 10 o’clock on Saturday night, Constables Southam and McInerney were associated in arresting the young fellow, Maxwell Kimber, for offensive behaviour arising from a street disturbance in the vicinity of the Imperial Hotel.
After strong resistance he was handcuffed and taken to the Police Station, and it is alleged that when the handcuffs were removed in the station office Kimber struck the officer heavily in the body without warning.
The Constable collapsed and in his home at the station he passed away about 40 minutes later.
Before Mr BK Donnelly, JP, on Monday morning Kimber was charged with manslaughter and remanded by consent to the Coroner’s Court on 24th June, bail being allowed self 500 pounds and one surety in 500 pounds or two in 250 pounds each.
On minor charges he was remanded to the Court of Petty Sessions to be holden on 25th June.
Mr AW Oliver appeared for the defendant and the prosecution was in the hands of Detectives Blisset and Shaw, of Cooma.
From every point of view the occurrence was a matter for profound regret in the community and sincere sympathy is felt for the bereaved family.
An impressive funeral from the Catholic Church on Monday afternoon was led by about thirty members of the Police Force who marched before the hearse through the town.
Superintendent Emerson, southern districts’ Police Superintendent, of Goulburn, Inspector Lark, of Bega, and Sergt 1st-class Lynch, of Cooma, attended, and the Force was well represented from all neighbouring centres in the coastal and southern tablelands area.
The cortege was a very large and representative one, and included five cars containing about twenty people (including the RSL President and Secretary from Quandialla, where the young Constable had been stationed prior to coming to Bombala a short time ago.
He was also impressively honoured by local ex-servicemen, 64 of whom assembled at the graveside, and Mr Tas Blyth, President of the local RSL sub-branch made fitting reference to the deceased.
“We are gathered here,” he said, “to pay our last respects to comrade-in-arms, Corporal McInerney, NX106658, who enlisted for service on 5th November, 1941, and saw active service at Darwin, New Guinea and Bougainville with the 55/53 Battalion.
“He was discharged from the 55th Australian Dental Unit on 30th Nay, 1946, and he then joined the Police Force.
“Corporal McInerney proved himself a good soldier, a good husband and father, a capable and respected Police Officer, and he was a valued member of the RSSAILA.
“We deeply mourn his untimely passing from our midst,” he said.
The Reveille and Last Post were sounded on the bugle by Mr John Groves.
Rev Fr Kelly officiated at the Requiem Mass and at the graveside.
With a gift of 25 pound each, the local RSL sub-branch and Club Committee have opened an appeal for funds which investigation has shown are necessary to assist the immediate needs of Mrs McInerney and children, and contributions will be gratefully received by Mr Jack Gray or Mr Foster Wilson, the newspaper report concluded.