Irish-Salem.com
Email Us My Blog

MURDERED "CHILD PORN" POLICEMAN: Police Install CCTV At Mother's Home

Geoffrey Harries and his wife were driven out of their home by threats from a mob. He moved in with his mother and was again threatened and then murdered. It is indeed strange  that the police have now installed CCTV cameras  outside his mother's house. Are they locking the stable door after the horse has gone? Or do they think that the charming people who murdered this man (or justified his murder) will attack his mother as well?

Those who justify murdering Geoffrey Harries, because he was accused of downloading child porn, are far more dangerous to society than the former policeman ever was. Can you imagine what lessons they are teaching their children?

Rory Connor
13 June 2008

(A) CCTV 'TOO LATE' IN EX-COP'S STREET

South Wales Evening Post, 13 June 2008
http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=161366  
    
 
Police have installed CCTV cameras in the street where child porn charge police officer Geoffrey Harries, was killed - four days after his death.Residents in the cul-de-sac in Pen y Mynydd, near Trimsaran, saw monitoring equipment being put up at the house where Mr Harries lived with his mother.

The former police officer was found with fatal stab wounds in the early hours of Saturday morning, while awaiting trial for 15 child porn charges.

After seeing the CCTV being installed at around 5pm on Tuesday night, one resident of Dythel Park described it as a classic case of locking the barn door after the horse had bolted.

"I think this is too little, too late," said the resident, who lives within sight of the homes of both Mr Harries and Daniel Williams, who was charged on Wednesday with Mr Harries's murder.

"If only the police had listened to some of us at the start of all this, maybe none of this would have been necessary.

"The community support officers called in and they told us it was a temporary measure for community reassurance.

"But he said that if we had any objections a more senior officer could come and speak to us."

The police and Crown Prosecution Service are facing strong calls for answers over their handling of Mr Harries's situation after Llanelli MP, Nia Griffith, revealed she had contacted both bodies in the weeks preceding Mr Harries's death, to highlight the developing unease among local residents and her concerns for his safety.

Dyfed-Powys Police confirmed that they were responsible for the installation of the monitoring equipment.

Spokeswoman, Ceri Doyle said: "The equipment was installed by the police as part of our community reassurance team work."

The police were also asked why the cameras had not been installed prior to the attack on Mr Harries but had failed to respond at the time of going to press.

Police charged 30-year-old Dythel Park resident, Daniel Marcell Williams with Mr Harries's murder in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

He appeared before Llanelli Magistrates Court later that day and was remanded in custody to appear before Swansea Crown Court on Friday, June 20.

Reader Comments:
If they place people on bail, for contentious acts, to houses without consulting neighbours, what do you expect  Sandra Jones, Swansea

(B) PETITION AIMED TO OUST STABBED TO DEATH EX-COP
South Wales Evening Post, 10 June 2008
http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=161818
 
Neighbours of a former police officer killed outside his home have revealed how his recent arrival in their midst sparked a furious outcry.

Residents in Trimsaran, had already started petitioning to force Geoffrey Harries out of the village by the time he was found with fatal stab wounds in the early hours of Saturday.

It has also been claimed he and his wife were driven out of their previous Pembrey address after Mr Harries was charged with possessing hundreds of child porn images.

Police, however, have played down suggestions of vigilantism.

Meanwhile, Mr Harries's devastated family paid tribute to the 49-year-old and said his tragic death "marked the end of many months of anguish and heartache" for them.

In a statement, they said: "Geoff was a loving husband and son who meant so much to his family and was well regarded by many people who knew him. He was a gentle man who was family-orientated and always willing to help friends and family.

"At the time of his death he was not convicted of any offences and we mourn his loss."

Mr Harries had been living at his mother's home in Dythel Park, Trimsaran, for around three weeks after being bailed by Cardiff magistrates on May 15, where he appeared to face 15 child porn charges.

One resident, of Dythel Park, who did not want to be named, said there had been considerable ill-feeling in the quiet cul-de-sac in the short time Mr Harries had been there.

"There has been a lot of tension since Mr Harries moved here - I know that petitions had been going round at that end of the close against him living there," she said.

"There are a lot of young children living round there, and some of the parents have been very concerned."

Speaking of his death, she added: "I can't believe that while I was sleeping, all this was happening just up the road. Many of us know Doreen, his mother, and we are all thinking of her at the moment."

Mr Harries was due to stand trial at Crown Court next week, accused of having 2,082 child porn images on his police computer. He had resigned from Dyfed-Powys Police, where he was a constable, at the end of March.

"I know people believed he had had problems where he was living before because of the publicity connected with his case," said another elderly widow.

"The gossip is that he was forced out of Pembrey and moved here.

"This has come as a terrible shock to the village. A lot of people think he was targeted, particularly because he was a former policeman."

Resident Christine Davies, of Heol Llanelli, said many people felt uneasy at the fact that Mr Harries had been living in their midst.

"There was a public meeting due to take place some time this week at the new leisure centre, and I know there was talk of a petition as well," she said.

She added: "I feel sorry for his mother above all. She is a nice woman and doesn't deserve this."

However, Deputy Chief Inspector Andy Edwards told a press conference: "We have no evidence to support charges of vigilantism against Mr Harries. We understand that Mr Harries and his widow had experienced some disquiet in Pembrey, which the police had been made aware of, but they chose to move to Trimsaran of their own accord."

It is thought Mr Harries was stabbed several times after challenging someone he thought had been tampering with his car at about 1.45am. He was rushed to hospital but pronounced dead at 6.45am.

Yesterday, much of Dythel Park remained under restricted access, with only residents allowed past police lines. Officers had also cordoned off a house backing onto Dythel Park and a nearby area of woodland.

On Sunday, police were given a further 36 hours to question a 30-year-old man in connection with the killing. They were given a further 24 hours yesterday.

"House-to-house inquiries and searches of the Dythel Park area of Trimsaran are continuing," said a force spokeswoman.

Call the incident room with information on 0845 3302000 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.