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Police tell of attack after Hickey funeral. 25/02/2004. ABC News Online

[This is the print version of story http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s1052944.htm]

Last Update: Wednesday, February 25, 2004. 2:02pm (AEDT)
Mourners at the funeral of TJ Hickey

Mourners at the funeral of TJ Hickey (ABC TV)

Police tell of attack after Hickey funeral

Police in the New South Wales town of Walgett say they were attacked with bricks and bottles early this morning, by people attending a party after the funeral of teenager Thomas Hickey.

Thomas 'TJ' Hickey, 17, died last week when he was impaled on a steel fence at Redfern. His family say police were chasing the boy when he died, a claim the police deny.

His death sparked a riot in which more than 40 police were injured.

Police yesterday said the crowd at his funeral in Walgett yesterday was well behaved.

Today, they say two officers were called to a house in Walgett about 3:00am where an after-funeral party was being held.

When they arrived between 20 and 30 young people began to throw bricks and bottles at police cars and nearby houses.

One house owned by a elderly man had every window broken.

Police say they have the names of five young people suspected of being part of the group.

It is understood several of the people involved were visitors to the town.

Superintendent Stan Single says that what happened this morning was not too much of a concern but police are investigating.



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