PSNI reopens inquiry on ‘savage’ 2001 killing of Belfast man

Police in the North have reopened an investigation into the 2001 murder of a vulnerable Belfast man.

Detectives from the PSNI’s Serious Crime Branch have received new information about the death of 26-year-old David Clarke.

Mr Clarke, who had learning difficulties, was beaten to death in his flat on the Forthriver Road in the early hours of June 6th, 2001.

His body was found later that evening by friends who forced their way into his flat after he had not been seen all day.

Det Chief Insp Alan Dickson said: “Everyone in the local community knew David. He knocked about more often with teenagers than people his own age because he felt more comfortable with them because of his learning difficulties. He was inoffensive and vulnerable.

Forced entry

“Sometime between midnight and 4am on 6 June, entry was forced into the flat and David was attacked. This was an assault which became increasingly frenzied and resulted in David’s death.

“The individuals in the flat smashed its fixtures and fittings and David’s ornaments. We believe David had retreated into his bedroom for safety, where he was savagely beaten and died.

“I have been a police officer for 28 years and a murder detective for 13 of those years. Apart from the wounds sustained by gunshot victims, David’s injuries are the worst I have seen. This was a frenzied and savage attack.”

In the weeks prior to his murder, David told friends had been bullied. He did not report the matter to police.

Mr Dickson said: “I believe David was bullied because he was different, nothing else. I believe the bullying went too far and the assault turned into a frenzy. There were a number of people present in the flat at the time of the assault, including a woman.

Information needed

“The information needed to apprehend David’s killer, or killers, lies within the local community at Forthriver and Glencairn.

“The community took David to its heart: people helped to pay for his funeral, his grave is tended to this day by locals and his old flat is now a community centre known locally as Clarke House,” he added.

Mr Dickson ruled out paramilitary involvement and appealed for anyone with information to come forward.

“People should not be concerned about coming forward with information for fear of reprisal. This was an incident in which a vulnerable young man who was no threat to anyone was savagely beaten because he was an easy target.”

The PSNI can be contacted on the non-emergency number 101 or via the Crimestoppers line (0800 555 111), where information can be provided anonymously.