Manus Campbell

Manus Campbell (1933 - 2003)

Brief overview:

Father Campbell (70), an elderly Irish Franciscan priest of Belfast was brutally killed in his presbytery in the town of Amanzimtoti, south of Durban, after he confronted a four-man gang in the early hours.
Last night South African police were questioning one young person and hunting another three in a reserve close to the town.
Insp Jason McGrey told the Irish Independent: "We've arrested one suspect but the others who we've identified have gone into hiding. They're all in their 20s. We've also recovered the car they stole and some of Fr Campbell's property.

"The murder has shocked the town - we've never had anything like it before."

Fr Campbell is believed to have tackled the gang when they broke into his home early on Wednesday.
The alarm was raised when a caretaker heard a car's engine revving loudly. Local people who went to the house found Fr Campbell dead in a passageway.
Parishioners say he was very fit for his age and despite the odds apparently tackled the intruders.
But the gang hit him over the head with a blunt instrument, tied his legs with a belt, gagged him and then strangled him with the cord of his habit.

Brief Biography:

• Other Victims/Family
• Funeral/Memorial
• The Street/Suburb
• The Region (Land disputes, other incidents etc.)

Attack Details:

• Date and time of attack
• Weapons
• Items Stolen
  • Insp McGrey said the suspects were also wanted in connection with other local break-ins. They took Fr Campbell's TV, video and his collection of cameras as well as his wallet.
• Investigative officer/SAPS Case No:
• Torture, Gratuitous violence
• Indications of Hate Crime? Threats etc.

Perpetrator details:

• Number and Descriptions
• Arrests
• Name/s and age/s of Perpetrator/s
• Country of origin of Perpetrator/s
• Trial/Conviction

Additional Biographical Information:

Said parishioner Patsy Grant: "He was a very keen golfer, very fit. That's why he put up such a struggle."
The priest, who had been in South Africa over 40 years, was "very popular," she added.
"He was a no-nonsense person but we all loved him. He was a very kind man, with a great sense of humour. What happened was an unnecessary and violent attack."

Links to Media articles:

• https://archive.ph/FueME
• https://archive.ph/mpBvO