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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
National
Beth Lindop

Man 'feared for his life' as police 'assaulted' him at nan's wake

A man claims he "feared for his life" when he was "assaulted" by a police officer at his nan's wake.

Michael Begley, 27, has alleged he was knocked unconscious when police "smashed his head on the floor" while trying to restrain him after a brawl broke out at Park View Social Club on Liscard Road, Wallasey, on Monday, July 25. A patrol car was flagged down by a concerned mourner when a family dispute spilled out onto the street, and a spokesperson for Merseyside Police confirmed officers requested further assistance after funeral guests turned "hostile".

Videos shared with the ECHO show a number of people, including officers, rubbing their eyes after police used pepper spray to bring the situation under control. Michael, from Wavertree, was one of three people arrested on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly in a public place and affray, however the 27-year-old has accused police of escalating the situation and said he "could have been killed" by the force's actions.

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Michael said: “My aunty flagged a police car down because there was a bit of an argument going on, but it was nothing to worry about. This unmarked police car pulled up next to me and the officer in the passenger side got out of the car and pushed me toward the kerb for absolutely no reason. I hadn’t even spoken to him, he had no reason to pull up next to me."

Michael claims he was knocked unconscious (Michael Begley)

Michael said he was "petrified for his life" and threatened to "knock the police officer out", before going back inside as he "didn't want to escalate the situation".

He told the ECHO: “I turned round and there were eight to ten police officers in my face which is when I really started fearing for my life. I said to my family 'he’s just assaulted me they’re trying to get me to shut up'. The officers got me down on the floor and nearly snapped my arms and smashed my head on the floor. I was knocked out for 30 seconds.”

“I just remember waking up and walking towards the door. Once the police started trying to get me to the floor, my family was fighting for me. They could have killed me.”

Michael has been left with scratches on his arm (Michael Begley)

Michael claims there was a one-year-old baby in the room when officers used pepper spray, and alleges that one officer pepper sprayed his little brother and told him "I'll f*** you up." He also claims an officer kept "digging" his knee into his sister's neck and called her a "rat".

Michael was taken into police custody for questioning, and was seen by a nurse for his head injury. But he claims the way he was treated by police prompted him to try and take his own life in his cell.

Bruising on Michael's sister's arm (Michael Begley)

Michael was released under investigation after 23 hours in custody and has made a formal complaint to Merseyside Police about the way he was treated. He said: “The police sprayed pepper spray and then hurt themselves because of what they started. I’m not having my family taking the blame. They ruined my nan’s final day on earth.”

Detective Inspector Amy Smith said: “We can confirm there is an ongoing criminal investigation into an incident at the Park View social club on Liscard Road in Wallasey on Monday 25th July. Three people were arrested on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly in a public place and affray, and two of those were further arrested on suspicion of assaulting three emergency workers.

"They have all been released under investigation pending further enquiries. We can confirm that we have received two complaints in relation to the incident. The complaints are currently being investigated by the Professional Standards Department at Merseyside Police and as such it would be inappropriate for us to comment further at this time.”

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