David J. Templeton
Encyclopedia
David J. Templeton was a minister of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland
who was murdered in 1997 after he was 'outed' as a gay
man by the Sunday Life newspaper.
. After leaving school he had worked as a civil servant. In 1976 he had a kidney transplant, the donor being his mother. This led him to change direction in his life and study at the Open University
intending to go into the Presbyterian ministry. After further studies he was ordained in 1985. As a minister he was a regular contributor to radio broadcasts on Downtown Radio
and the BBC
.
(B.A.), Queen's University of Belfast, (M.Th.), and Princeton Theological Seminary
(M.Div.), and served as Minister of Trinity, Greyabbey Presbyterian Church near Newtownards
, County Down
; and previously as Assistant Minister of Duncairn and St Enoch's Presbyterian Church in Belfast
.
, and beat him baseball bats with spikes driven through them. Following the attack, which had the elements of a paramilitary punishment beating, Templeton was found with a fractured jaw, fractures to both legs and multiple cuts and abrasions to his arms and legs. At the time of the attack, he was one of Northern Ireland
's longest surviving kidney transplantees.
He remained in hospital for several weeks, but was then released as he appeared to be recovering. Unfortunately he died on 24 March after suffering a heart attack caused by thrombosis due to his immobility after the attack. He was 43 years old. He was buried in Larne, County Antrim
. 500 mourners attended his funeral in Gardenmore Presbyterian Church, including his wheelchair-using mother and the then moderator of the Presbyterian Church. No group has claimed responsibility for his murder, but it is widely believed that the assault was carried out by elements of the Ulster Volunteer Force, a loyalist
paramilitary group.
When the attack took place, Templeton was living in the Ballyduff estate in Newtownabbey
. He had recently stepped down as Minister of Trinity Presbyterian Church, Greyabbey, following a front page story in the Sunday Life newspaper which revealed that he had recently been stopped by customs officials at Belfast International Airport
in possession of a gay pornographic video. Templeton co-operated with the authorities and acknowledged that he had purchased the video quite legally from a high street chain store while he was on holiday in Amsterdam
. After investigation, including a search of his church manse, the Royal Ulster Constabulary
determined to take no further action. A customs official subsequently approached the Sunday Life newspaper and received payment for detailing the incident and revealing Templeton's identity. Following exposure by the press, he stood down as Minister of his congregation, having been told by congregational leaders that his position was untenable. Left without a home, he moved into a rented council house in the Ballyduff estate while exploring alternative career opportunities.
, a UVF commander and RUC informer. Templeton identified Haddock in hospital as his assailant.
In January 2007, the Police Ombudsman issued a report implicating several special branch officers in failing to act on evidence that linked an informer to at least ten murders, but contrary to earlier press speculation the murder of David Templeton was not one of those mentioned, although it did state that further cases are being investigated. To date, no-one has ever been arrested in relation to the murder of David Templeton.
Presbyterian Church in Ireland
The Presbyterian Church in Ireland , is the largest Presbyterian denomination in Ireland, and the largest Protestant denomination in Northern Ireland...
who was murdered in 1997 after he was 'outed' as a gay
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
man by the Sunday Life newspaper.
Life
David Templeton was born in LarneLarne
Larne is a substantial seaport and industrial market town on the east coast of County Antrim, Northern Ireland with a population of 18,228 people in the 2001 Census. As of 2011, there are about 31,000 residents in the greater Larne area. It has been used as a seaport for over 1,000 years, and is...
. After leaving school he had worked as a civil servant. In 1976 he had a kidney transplant, the donor being his mother. This led him to change direction in his life and study at the Open University
Open University
The Open University is a distance learning and research university founded by Royal Charter in the United Kingdom...
intending to go into the Presbyterian ministry. After further studies he was ordained in 1985. As a minister he was a regular contributor to radio broadcasts on Downtown Radio
Downtown Radio
Downtown Radio is an Adult Contemporary music radio station based in Newtownards, County Down, that serves all of Northern Ireland using a network of FM and AM transmitters.- History :...
and the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
.
Christian ministry
Templeton was a graduate of the University of Ulster at ColeraineUniversity of Ulster at Coleraine
The University of Ulster at Coleraine is the Coleraine campus of the University of Ulster. It houses the administrative headquarters of the university and is the most traditional in outlook, with a focus on science and the humanities. It was founded in 1968 as the New University of Ulster...
(B.A.), Queen's University of Belfast, (M.Th.), and Princeton Theological Seminary
Princeton Theological Seminary
Princeton Theological Seminary is a theological seminary of the Presbyterian Church located in the Borough of Princeton, New Jersey in the United States...
(M.Div.), and served as Minister of Trinity, Greyabbey Presbyterian Church near Newtownards
Newtownards
Newtownards is a large town in County Down, Northern Ireland. It lies at the most northern tip of Strangford Lough, 10 miles east of Belfast, on the Ards Peninsula. Newtownards is the largest town in the Borough of Ards. According to the 2001 Census, it has a population of 27,821 people in...
, County Down
County Down
-Cities:*Belfast *Newry -Large towns:*Dundonald*Newtownards*Bangor-Medium towns:...
; and previously as Assistant Minister of Duncairn and St Enoch's Presbyterian Church in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
.
Death
On 7 February, 1997 three men wearing balaclavas entered his home in north Belfast, Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
, and beat him baseball bats with spikes driven through them. Following the attack, which had the elements of a paramilitary punishment beating, Templeton was found with a fractured jaw, fractures to both legs and multiple cuts and abrasions to his arms and legs. At the time of the attack, he was one of Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
's longest surviving kidney transplantees.
He remained in hospital for several weeks, but was then released as he appeared to be recovering. Unfortunately he died on 24 March after suffering a heart attack caused by thrombosis due to his immobility after the attack. He was 43 years old. He was buried in Larne, County Antrim
County Antrim
County Antrim is one of six counties that form Northern Ireland, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland. Adjoined to the north-east shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of 2,844 km², with a population of approximately 616,000...
. 500 mourners attended his funeral in Gardenmore Presbyterian Church, including his wheelchair-using mother and the then moderator of the Presbyterian Church. No group has claimed responsibility for his murder, but it is widely believed that the assault was carried out by elements of the Ulster Volunteer Force, a loyalist
Ulster loyalism
Ulster loyalism is an ideology that is opposed to a united Ireland. It can mean either support for upholding Northern Ireland's status as a constituent part of the United Kingdom , support for Northern Ireland independence, or support for loyalist paramilitaries...
paramilitary group.
When the attack took place, Templeton was living in the Ballyduff estate in Newtownabbey
Newtownabbey
Newtownabbey is a large town north of Belfast in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. Sometimes considered to be a suburb of Belfast, it is separated from the rest of the city by Cavehill and Fortwilliam golf course...
. He had recently stepped down as Minister of Trinity Presbyterian Church, Greyabbey, following a front page story in the Sunday Life newspaper which revealed that he had recently been stopped by customs officials at Belfast International Airport
Belfast International Airport
Belfast International Airport is a major airport located northwest of Belfast in Northern Ireland. It was formerly known and is still referred to as Aldergrove Airport, after the village of the same name lying immediately to the west of the airport. Belfast International shares its runways with...
in possession of a gay pornographic video. Templeton co-operated with the authorities and acknowledged that he had purchased the video quite legally from a high street chain store while he was on holiday in Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
. After investigation, including a search of his church manse, the Royal Ulster Constabulary
Royal Ulster Constabulary
The Royal Ulster Constabulary was the name of the police force in Northern Ireland from 1922 to 2000. Following the awarding of the George Cross in 2000, it was subsequently known as the Royal Ulster Constabulary GC. It was founded on 1 June 1922 out of the Royal Irish Constabulary...
determined to take no further action. A customs official subsequently approached the Sunday Life newspaper and received payment for detailing the incident and revealing Templeton's identity. Following exposure by the press, he stood down as Minister of his congregation, having been told by congregational leaders that his position was untenable. Left without a home, he moved into a rented council house in the Ballyduff estate while exploring alternative career opportunities.
Allegations of police collusion
In 2002, David Templeton's murder was re-examined using the latest forensic science techniques, but this did not lead to any arrests. In 2004, Johnston Brown, a retired detective sergeant, claimed that the RUC covered up murders by Mark HaddockMark Haddock
Mark Haddock is a loyalist paramilitary leader in Northern Ireland, and British Special Branch informer, who has been named by various sources in connection with more than twenty-one murders...
, a UVF commander and RUC informer. Templeton identified Haddock in hospital as his assailant.
In January 2007, the Police Ombudsman issued a report implicating several special branch officers in failing to act on evidence that linked an informer to at least ten murders, but contrary to earlier press speculation the murder of David Templeton was not one of those mentioned, although it did state that further cases are being investigated. To date, no-one has ever been arrested in relation to the murder of David Templeton.