Constable Patrick McCarthy died on 1st October 1943 aged 52 years old at the gate of Ross' Spinning Mill, Odessa Street, Belfast. The Royal Ulster Constabulary officer from the Springfield Road Barracks accompanied a cashier and a gate boy from a bank. That morning, on arrival at the Odessa Street gatehouse, the boy and the older cashier went upstairs to the mill office.
McCarthy waited in the gatehouse for their return. As he sat in a chair awaiting an “all clear” message, a man appeared holding a revolver. The intruder instructed the Constable not to move but McCarthy made a reach for his gun. A single shot rang out, fatally wounding the police officer through the left side of his chest.
Two other men armed with revolvers arrived. They instructed a female employee leaving the mill to “get back”, threatening her at gunpoint. The 3 armed men disappeared together and the girl ran screaming. She went to the gatehouse and saw McCarthy slumped at the desk. When she looked again, he had made it to the doorway, clutching for his revolver, staggering across the road in an attempt to give chase. The police later questioned a large number of young men in the area.
On Friday 8th October 1943, the Belfast Newsletter carried news of the inquest into Constable McCarthy’s murder.
Death from shock and hemorrhage following gunshot wounds wilfully inflicted by some person unknown.
In the Belfast Newsletter on 14th October 1943, Mr. Nixon (Independent M.P. for Woodvale, Belfast) spoke about inadequate measures taken to protect R.U.C. officers. He believed McCarthy had been a lone escort while other men at the barracks marked time in the yard.
There was too much of the sergeant-majoring and Irish Guards stuff going on in the Springfield Road R.U.C. barrack. The clickings of heels and marches up and down the barrack yard were not wanted.
As reported in the Belfast Telegraph on 1st December 1943, his widow Margaret McCarthy of 24 Iveagh Drive,Belfast claimed £5,000 compensation. A hearing took place that day before Judge Chambers at the Recorder’s Court. Mrs. McCarthy claimed compensation for the loss suffered by herself and 4 children.
Mr. T.J. Campbell K.C., M.P. instructed by Messrs D. O’Rorke and Son represented the applicant. Mr. Isaac Copeland instructed by the Town Solicitor represented respondents, the Belfast Corporation. The Belfast Corporation admitted liability. This left the court to decide the amount of compensation, which it set at £1,600. McCarthy’s annual income was £315 18s. His widow received a pension of £78 per year and each child received £15 12s until they reached the age of 16 years old. On 28th January 1944, the Northern Whig reported that Lord Justice Murphy at Ulster High Court increased the compensation to £1,800. This was the result of an appeal from Mrs. McCarthy.
Born in West Leip, Co. Cork, Patrick McCarthy had been a soldier during The Great and was Mentioned in Dispatches. In the 1920s, he joined the Royal Irish Constabulary in Belfast followed by the Royal Ulster Constabulary when the former disbanded. District Inspector Murphy stated that McCarthy was a very popular officer and was due to retire in 1948.