Red Lion Square Disorders - Death of Kevin Gately

Death of Kevin Gately

Kevin Gately was a student at Warwick University who accompanied fellow students to the counter-demonstration. Gately was not a member of a political group and had never been on a demonstration before. As some of the Warwick students were supporters of the IMG, all of them marched with the IMG contingent and were caught up in the initial clash in Red Lion Square. Photos show Gately moving through the crowd, possibly trying to escape from the tight press of bodies during the pushing at the police cordon. His unconscious body was found by police after the crowd was driven back and taken in an ambulance to University College Hospital.

Gately's fellow students only realised that he was missing when they met after the demonstration ended. A student who enquired at University College Hospital was shown Gately's body and asked to identify him.

A coroner's inquest at St Pancras Coroner's Court concluded that Gately's death was the result of a blow to the head from a blunt instrument. Left wing newspapers at the time blamed his death on the mounted police though this was based on supposition and conclusive evidence has not been forthcoming.

Kevin Gately was the first demonstrator to be killed in Britain for 55 years.

Read more about this topic:  Red Lion Square Disorders

Famous quotes containing the words death of, death and/or kevin:

    It is certainly safe, in view of the movement to the right of intellectuals and political thinkers, to pronounce the brain death of socialism.
    Norman Tebbit (b. 1931)

    Farewell deare flowers, sweetly your time ye spent,
    Fit, while ye liv’d, for smell or ornament,
    And after death for cures.
    I follow straight without complaints or grief,
    Since if my sent be good, I care not, if
    It be as short as yours.
    George Herbert (1593–1633)

    Well, on the official record you’re my son. But on this post you’re just another trooper. You heard me tell the recruits what I need from them. Twice that I will expect from you.... You’ve chosen my way of life. I hope you have the guts enough to endure it. But put outa your mind any romantic ideas that it’s a way to glory. It’s a life of suffering and of hardship and uncompromising devotion to your oath and your duty.
    —James Kevin McGuinness, and John Ford. Lt. Col. Kirby Yorke (John Wayne)