MAN BEATEN AND ROBBED

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32636, 18 June 1971, Page 10

MAN BEATEN AND ROBBED

An elderly social security beneficiary was savagely beaten and left lying in a pool of his own blood in the M.E.D. yard in Gloucester Street early last evening.

The man, Ambrose O’Malley, aged 65, of Armagh Street, is believed to have been robbed of between $lO and $2O.

Mr O'Malley’s head was severely beaten and at one stage it was feared he might

lose an eye. His jaw is thought to nave been broken in the attack, which was described by a man who saw Mr O’Malley as "brutal—the worst I have seen.”

Mr O’Malley staggered into the Ministry of Transport building in Manchester Street about 6.15 p.m., his face badly cut and bruised, and his clothes drenched with blood.

Ministry of Transport officers could not at first understand Mr O’Malley, who could only mumble softly through his swollen mouth. When they managed to hear what he was saying they called the police and an ambulance.

Within minutes, six patrol cars, aided by dogs, were in the area, but no trace was found of the assailant He is believed to be a Maori, but no other description is available.

According to several persons who saw him, Mr O’Malley had been savagely kicked in the head.

He was admitted to Christchurch Hospital, where his condition was reported to be fairly comfortable late last evening.

Detective-Sergeant D. N. Scott said that he could only surmise much of what had

happened. "It appears that Mi O’Malley was met by a person in Manchester Street —a Maori, we believe—and enticed into the M.E.D. yard on the pretext of looking for something.

"Once there he was viciously assaulted, and it appears that a cheque and some cash, worth between $lO and $2O, were taken.”

Mr Scott appealed to members of the public who saw Mr O’Malley talking to a Maori some time between 5 p.m. and 6.15 p.m. in Manchester Street to notify the C. 1.8.

“We don’t even know how long he was lying there," he said. “He may have been there some time, as he had rolled in a pool of his own blood, and his clothes were saturated with it”

Mr O’Malley is of frail build, about sft in height, and was wearing a blue garbardine raincoat a white shirt and tie, possibly gloves, light green trousers, and black shoes.