Constable Howell’s tragic death shook the nation, with six thousand people attending his funeral, while five hundred uniformed officers lined the streets. William O’Meally, branded as the murderer, was vilified by the press, the public and those in power. He endured years of brutal punishment which included being flogged by the cat-o’-nine-tails. The judge decreed he would die in jail, but 27 years later, the prosecutor who secured his conviction facilitated his release.
O’Meally passed away in 2012 at the age of 92. The real killer was dead at 45. His identity will stun true crime enthusiasts. In Meeting the Killer of Constable George Howell, author Ray Matheson not only recounts his own journey through delinquency, imprisonment, and redemption, but also, in exposing a grievous miscarriage of justice, he affirms the innocence of William O’Meally.
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