Palm Island officer barely mentioned in report

THE big omission in the report into investigations relating to the death in custody of Mulrunji Doomadgee is the policeman at the centre of the saga.

THE glaring omission in the 187-page demolition of the Queensland Police Service's handling of investigations relating to the death in custody of Mulrunji Doomadgee is the policeman at the centre of the saga.

Senior Sergeant Chris Hurley arrested the Aborigine for public nuisance on November 19, 2004, and was found by a coroner last month to have inflicted the injuries that caused his death in the Palm Island lock-up.

But he rates only a passing mention in the Crime and Misconduct Commission report, which emphasises a focus on the conduct of investigating police, not that of Sergeant Hurley.

Commissioner Bob Atkinson yesterday rejected a report that Sergeant Hurley, who remains on operational duty, had been promoted. He said, however, the officer acted as a relieving inspector of police on occasion. Sergeant Hurley is now stationed on the Gold Coast.

Deputy Chief Magistrate Brian Hine, as Acting Coroner, found last month Sergeant Hurley had probably lied in evidence to previous proceedings. But he could make no finding as to whether the fall that fatally injured Doomadgee was accidental or intentional on the policeman's part.

The CMC said it was now investigating "other matters" arising from Mr Hine's findings and recommendations.

JAMIE WALKER, ROSANNE BARRETT