AMBUSHED AT HIS OWN HOME
War photographer paints picture of assault, home invasion
VETERAN photographer Mick Toal, 56, with his dog, Bourkie, has witnessed the worst in people from Rwanda to Somalia and the depths of the Middle East. He’s now dealing with injuries and vandalism after he was attacked by four youths who threatened to kill him, then beat him and tried to invade his home and sanctuary at Manoora.
VETERAN photographer Mick Toal has seen the worst in humanity – the killing fields of Rwanda, the chaos of Somalia and in the dust of the Middle East and Afghanistan.
But it was in his “happy place”, a townhouse in Manoora’s Murray St, that he really questioned justice after three youths allegedly beat him and tried to invade his home.
The trio are understood to be repeat offenders.
Mr Toal, 56, was in the midst of his own critical health battles when he was allegedly attacked by the juveniles last Thursday night, after he asked them not to kick at his threelegged white terrier, Bourkie.
“They came over immediately and they were confrontational – they were aged between 15 and 17,” Mr Toal said.
He alleged two of the juveniles were armed with clubs.
The recently homeless veteran had moved into Murray St public housing three months ago and felt at home in the close-knit community.
He said the youths were outsiders to the area.
“They threw a few haymakers at me and spat in my face,” Mr Toal said. He suffered a laceration to the surface of his left eye and blunt force trauma to his left cheekbone.
As the renowned war correspondent fought to return his dog to safety, the attack escalated. “They tried to get in and threatened to kill me – one of them smashed up a window and managed to draw some blood,” he said.
The house still bears the damage.
“I can’t believe these guys could commit a serious assault and smash my house up; they have to be held to account – they just laugh at cautions,” he said.
Mr Toal, whose images and equipment have graced the Australian War Memorial, said the young offenders had made a “bad life decision”.
“These grubs came and violated my space; I just want to live my life in peace,” he said.
“If I had flogged them, I would have been in more trouble than they are … If an adult had spat on me, it would have been a serious charge.”
Mr Toal will have to undergo six months of screening for disease because of the alleged assault.
In a moment of poetic justice, police were able to track down one of the alleged assailants due to his self-inflicted lacerations from the window.
“I haven’t got an apology from them yet; I want them to clean up the blood,” Mr Toal said. “I’m not going to clean that stuff up.”
He said the incident had not robbed him of his fondness for Murray St, the residents of which rallied against the alleged attackers.
“The neighbours tracked them down,” Mr Toal said.
“It is actually a really good community.
“It’s those kids who don’t live here and behave like Neanderthals.”
A 17-year-old Kuranda boy was charged with one count each of public nuisance and possessing a utensil. He is scheduled to appear in the Cairns Children’s Court.
Two Manoora youths, aged 16 and 17, were dealt with under the Youth Justice Act for wilful damage for the broken window. The elder of the two was also dealt with under the Youth Justice Act for common assault.
Donna-Maree O’Connor of Access Community Housing said Mr Toal’s residence would be repaired.