Tomkins Incident - Police Behaviour

Police Behaviour

Boland’s family have said the police questioned Boland for three hours until legal representation from Legal Aid arrived. The representative allegedly said that Boland was in no condition to give a statement, and ordered the boy be taken to hospital to be treated for his injuries, which he considered were extremely severe.

Boland’s family have said Boland’s face was bruised and swollen, he had suffered several cuts on his body from being dragged around and had rope burns around his neck. Boland’s family have said Boland was still in shock and vomited repeatedly on the way to the hospital.

At the local Goondiwindi hospital a nurse attended Boland, but the doctor on duty refused to see him, despite the gravity of his injuries, according to Boland’s family. At one stage Boland and one of the Tomkins, who had broken his arm in the fracas, were sitting together in the same treatment room. Boland was then taken by the police to a holding cell in Tenterfield.