Inspector Michael O’NEILL
Inspector Michael O’NEILL
Illness
Sydney
4 February, 1954
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The sudden death of Inspector O’Neill was reported in The Argus of 5 February, 1954.
POLICEMAN DIES ON TOUR DUTY: Sydney, Thursday.
A police inspector died today while on duty in Macquarie Street for the opening of State Parliament by the Queen. He was Inspector Michael O’Neill, aged 56. At the time he was in charge of 35 police engaged in controlling the crowd and the traffic before the Queen arrived.He collapsed when allotting police to their positions, at 7.30 a.m. O’Neill was rushed to Sydney Hospital, about 100 yards away, where he died. A police officer said tonight that many police had worked double shifts coping with Royal Tour crowds. He said, “Sydney’s crowds in the last two days have tested police to the utmost.
The inspector was aged about 56 year at the time of his death. Further details are unknown at present.