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£20,000 Reward Offered For Information On One Punch Murder Case

£20,000 Reward Offered For Information On One Punch Murder Case

Desmond O'Beirne was punched in the head as he tried to escape.

Tom Wood

Tom Wood

A £20,000 reward has been offered for anyone with information leading to the conviction of the people guilty of killing a man with one punch.

Desmond O'Beirne, 51, was attacked by two men in the early hours of 3 June 2017 while he was in Trafalgar Square, London.

The attack left him in a comatose state in hospital until his death 6 months later. He never regained his consciousness during that time and eventually lost his fight for his life.

The Metropolitan police are offering the reward of £20,000 for information that helps their investigation and have also released horrific CCTV footage of the cowardly assault.

The police are concerned that the attack happening just 24 hours before the terrorist attack in London Bridge has meant that people have not come forward, despite potentially witnessing the incident.

The chilling video footage shows Mr O'Beirne trying to flee the attack and run away but getting hit in the back of the head.

Victim  Mr O'Beirne (
Met Police)

The cheap shot floored him and then the second man kicked him in the chest before both of the attackers fled the scene.

Mr O'Beirne was then tended to by onlookers and the emergency services were called.

London Ambulance Service paramedics treated him at the scene and then transported him to hospital. He eventually lost his battle on 20 December that year.

The post mortem examination revealed that the cause of his death was the head injury suffered when one of the attackers punched him.

DCI Noel McHugh, who is part of the team investigating the crime, said: "Someone might see this video and remember that they witnessed this incident; you will see a female who is clearly shocked by what has happened and holds her hands up to her face.

"You may have been part of the group and did not realise how seriously Desmond was hurt and that he has now died.

Metropolitan Police

He continued: "That may prey on your mind. You can contact us and help us get justice. Desmond was an inoffensive man, a big man and character, who was out having a drink.

"The CCTV shows that he was senselessly attacked and he never stood a chance.

"The events of Desmond's attack precede the London Bridge terrorist attacks which were in the following evening.

"So whilst there is a passage of time, people will remember where they were in London, and could remember this incident.

"I'm asking anyone who took any footage or selfies around that time in to contact us; take a look through your photos and see if you have something that can help us."

Metropolitan Police

So far, no arrests have been made. Anyone with any information can contact the incident room on 020 8785 8099 or via Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or crimestoppers-uk.org.


Featured Image Credit: Metropolitan Police

Topics: terrorism, UK News, Murder, London