Funeral to be held today for sectarian victim Paul McCauley tragically died last wekend
THE funeral will take place this afternoon for UDA murder victim Paul McCauley who lost his fight for life last weekend after a nine year battle.
Hundreds of mourners are expected to turn out at the Requiem Mass to pay their respects for the 38-year-old civil servant was attacked by a loyalist gang in July 2006.
The Catholic father-of-one suffered a brain haemorrhage and a fractured skull during the vicious, sectarian and unprovoked assault.
Up to 15 loyalists were involved in the attack while Paul was attending a barbecue in the Waterside area of Derry.
Paul spent the past nine years rest of his life in a helpless state, in need of 24-hour nursing care.
The father died at a care home on Saturday morning in the city.
A post mortem was carried out earlier this week to determine his exact cause of death.
His funeral will be held in St Columb’s Church on Thursday afternoon.
The McCauley family, who spent every day at his bedside, will lead the mourners.
Speaking ahead of attending this afternoon’s funeral, SDLP Foyle MP Mark Durkan said:
“I know that Paul’s family have been able to take comfort and encouragement from the breadth and depth of sympathy which has been expressed following Paul’s death.
“While so much of Paul’s personality has been trapped inside his viciously imposed brokenness – leaving him unable to communicate for nine years – it is now as though his spirit is communicating in a way that makes the tragedy and travesty of his case reach people anew.
“People are reaching out their sympathy also in response to the courage and fortitude which has been raised by Paul’s family throughout their hard journey of love and their strong quest for justice.”
Jim McCauley believes the UDA was involved in the attack on his son.
Said heartbroken dad Jim: “Because the police have turned the investigation into a murder inquiry, there will be a post-mortem on Paul’s body, which has added to our stress, something Cathy, Paul’s mother is finding particularly difficult.
“We have never been separated for as much as a day from Paul since the attack.
“Every single day we spent with him, but now he will be with the coroner in Belfast until later this week and that is hard for us to accept.
“Police have to go through nine years of medical records to filter out what will be relevant to their investigation, so we are not sure yet when our son will be given back to us.”
Only one man – Daryl Proctor – was jailed for the violent assault at Chapel Road in the city, while 25 others were arrested and questioned.
Proctor was released from prison this year.
The other members of the gang remain at large despite repeated police appeals for information.
The detective now leading the murder hunt, Chief Inspector Michael Harvey, said: “In memory of Paul, for the McCauley family and in the interests of justice, police stand ready to explore any opportunities provided either by a change in circumstances or a qualm of conscience.
“The investigation remains open and detectives are committed to bringing those responsible to justice.
“Paul was an innocent victim of an unprovoked sectarian assault.
“Our Chief Constable (George Hamilton) said last year he was sorry that more people had not been brought to justice than the one individual who was convicted and sentenced.”
He added: “On behalf of the entire police family, I want to extend our deepest sympathies to the McCauley family following Paul’s death.
“They have conducted themselves with great dignity over the past almost nine years since the vicious attack on Paul and his friends.
“The love and care they gave to Paul have been a beacon of light in a tragically dark set of circumstances.
“They have been a compelling voice on Paul’s behalf, a voice with dignity, energy and compassion.”
Anyone with information that can help police catch Paul’s killers is asked to ring detectives in Derry on the 101 non-emergency number.
Or alternatively information can be passed anonymously through Crimestoppers on freephone 0800 555 111.