MURDER
CASE #: 1997-44
David J Templeton
Status:
Open
Date of Offense:
Date of Offense:
Jurisdiction:
Offense Location:
Newtownabbey, County Antrim, Northern Ireland
Summary:
David J. Templeton (1954–24 March 1997) was a minister of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland who was murdered in 1997 after he was 'outed' as a gay man by the Sunday Life newspaper. On 7 February 1997, three men wearing balaclavas entered his home in Ballyduff, Newtownabbey and beat him with baseball bats with spikes driven through them, with the attack having the elements of a paramilitary punishment beating. He died on 24 March, aged 42, after suffering a heart attack from injuries sustained from the beating.
Vital Statistics
Circumstances of Offense:
Rev Templeton was attacked at his home at 9pm on February 7, according to the book 'Lost Lives'. It adds that he was hit with nail-studded clubs, fracturing his skull and breaking his legs. Following the attack, which had the elements of a paramilitary punishment beating, Templeton was found with a fractured jaw, fractures to both legs and multiple cuts and abrasions to his arms and legs. At the time of the attack, he was Northern Ireland's longest surviving kidney transplant patient. He remained in hospital for several weeks, but was then released as he appeared to be recovering.
Additional Details:
Mr Templeton moved to a flat in a loyalist area of Newtownabbey, on the outskirts of north Belfast. Friends thought it was an unwise move but he is believed to have been short of money. Eighteen months before the attack, customs officials at Belfast International Airport had searched Mr Templeton as he disembarked from an Amsterdam flight and found a gay pornographic video featuring adult men. The Belfast newspaper Sunday Life later ran a story referring to him as a 'gay porn cleric'. He resigned as minister at Greyabbey; He did the honourable thing and left himself. It was a pragmatic approach which gained him sympathy in the church. He knew that not all his congregation would continue to accept him. To date, no-one has ever been arrested in relation to the murder of David Templeton. It is widely believed that the assault was carried out by elements of the Ulster Volunteer Force, a loyalist paramilitary group. The PSNI said the murder currently sits within the caseload of Legacy Investigation Branch (LIB) for future review. Regrettably, due to the LIB caseload, they are unable to give any undertaking as to when this review will commence. He was buried in Larne, County Antrim. 500 mourners attended his funeral.
Case Last Updated:
Timeline of Events
He died on 24 March, aged 42, after suffering a heart attack from injuries sustained from the beating.
Rev Templeton was attacked at his home at 9pm on February 7. He was hit with nail-studded clubs, fracturing his skull and breaking his legs.
Associated Persons
Unknown U. (Suspect) - Unknown
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