Mulrunji family wins $370,000 damages

QUEENSLAND taxpayers will provide $370,000 in damages to the family of Mulrunji, who died in police custody on Palm Island in 2004.

QUEENSLAND taxpayers will provide $370,000 in damages to the family of Mulrunji, who died in police custody on Palm Island in 2004, and have also been asked to pay the $1 million legal bill for Senior-Sergeant Chris Hurley and other officers involved in the case.

In a stunning conclusion to the long-running saga, the Supreme Court has endorsed a negotiated civil settlement whereby the state will pay damages to the partner, nephew and niece of Cameron Doomadgee, who is known in death as Mulrunji.

Mulrunji was found dead in his cell on November 19, 2004, after being arrested by Sergeant Hurley for causing a public nuisance. When an autopsy revealed broken ribs and a ruptured liver and spleen, the island erupted in riots.

It was unclear last night whether the state, in agreeing to pay damages, had accepted any liability for Mulrunji's death.

Mulrunji's de facto wife, Tracey Twaddle, will receive $192,500 for damages over his death.

A psychiatric report filed with the court states that Ms Twaddle, 46, has become "paranoid" since Mulrunji's death and suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and panic disorder with agoraphobia.

Mulrunji's intellectually-impaired nephew, Dwayne Doomadgee, 33, will have $142,500 held in trust on his behalf, while his 35-year-old niece, Barbara Pilot, will receive $35,000.

With all matters now concluded, the Queensland Police Union has submitted a claim to be reimbursed of about $1m in legal expenses for Sergeant Hurley and other officers involved in the various coronial, criminal and civil cases.

Given Sergeant Hurley was never convicted or disciplined over the incident -- he was acquitted of manslaughter and a subsequent coronial inquest ruled the cause of Mulrunji's death was inconclusive -- he would normally be entitled, as a public servant, to have his legal expenses covered.

It is understood the government can pay up to 75 per cent of the union's total claim.

The claim has been made to a special committee in the Queensland Police Service but because the amount is above the normal thresholds, the committee will have to make a recommendation to Police Minister Neil Roberts, who in turn will have to take the matter to cabinet.

It comes as the Crime and Misconduct Commission finalises its investigation into whether Sergeant Hurley sought to profit from the riots that followed Mulrunji's death.

The Australian had obtained documents, under Freedom of Information laws, showing Sergeant Hurley received a $102,955 ex-gratia payment for belongings lost when his police residence was burnt down, despite having made a claim on an insurance policy which valued his belongings at $34,419.

Sergeant Hurley also benefited from a public appeal run by the union.

The CMC this week wrote to the parties involved and is understood to have told them it believes no criminal or disciplinary charges are warranted.

The reason for the discrepancy in claims has never been revealed.