Thomas James HEANEY

In the early hours of 7 June 1905 while on patrol, then Constable 1/c Thomas Heaney witnessed a male offender exiting a window of the Norman Hotel at Woolloongabba. Heaney approached and attempted to arrest the offender, Henry Smith, and a violent struggle ensued. Heaney was struck from behind by a second offender and Smith's accomplice, Lawrence Blake. Heaney was hit multiple times over the head with a metal bar rendering him unconscious and with severe head injuries resulting in skull fractures.

Heaney was transported by ambulance to a hospital for treatment where doctors reported he has sustained a compound fracture to the skull about his left ear, several cuts and abrasions to the head and a fractured jaw. The two offenders Smith and Blake, were later arrested and charged with grievous bodily harm and burglary. Blake was sentenced to 10 months and Smith to four years’ imprisonment.

Heaney was promoted to Sergeant, backdated to the attack on 7 June 1905. On 1 January 1906, Sergeant Heaney was medically retired on a full police pension. On 27 September 1906, Thomas Heaney died at his residence in South Brisbane. The attending doctor certified that he died from primary injuries of a fractured skull and secondary injuries of paralysis of the muscles of the throat and larynx. Even though Heaney was no longer a serving police officer, his death was reported to Police Commissioner Cahill and he was granted a full police funeral and was burled at the Toowong Cemetery alongside his late wife Mary.