Young RUC woman remembered

68-year-old John Mullan from Tyler Avenue has waited over 35 years to commend the courage of young part-time reserve officer Cherry Campbell, killed by an errant driver after attending a road accident in Londonderry on Halloween night 1975. Cherry, who was just 24-years- old at the time, died from her injuries at Altnagelvin Hospital 22 days after the tragic accident occurred. Mr Mullan, who was the Section Sergeant on duty at the time, says he hopes his tribute will not only pay tribute to a young girl who was a “credit” to her family, friends and job, but also to remind young drivers how easily life can be taken away on our roads.

Speaking to the Sentinel John said: “I will be 69 in January and time is getting shorter for us all and I know I’ve got to do it now. I can’t put it off anymore. It’s something that I have always wanted to do but I never got down to it.”

“I knew Cherry for approximately two years. I was only in the police force for four years, from 1971 to the date of the accident and I was then medically discharged. It was the only job I ever, ever wanted to do.”

John continued; “I feel now that there is a load off a shoulders because I wanted to express my feelings about this young person who is no longer with us because she was so kind and good and bubbly. I hope that people will take from this the value and the goodness of this person.

“I also hope that young people will realise to drive very carefully on the road. It was a driver who was coming from a celebration in the American base on the Limavady Road, it wasn’t a drink driver, he wasn’t over the limit. The deaths today on our roads aren’t getting any better.”

Cherry, based at Waterside RUC Station at the time, offered up her services to Section Sergeant John Mullan to gain more experience of police work. Whilst operating a check point on the Limavady side of the Maydown round about a damage-only accident occurred and Cherry asked permission from sergeant Mullan to investigate the accident.

Mr Mullan described: “As she was nearing the completion I heard a shout ‘he’s not going to stop!’ from the policeman who was on red torch duty to slow down traffic and to inform them to drive slowly through the accident scene. Roads were not closed in those days.

“Very soon after that four people, two men and two women were admitted to ward 6 Altnagelvin with serious leg injuries, also Cherry and a man from the Belmont area was admitted to intensive Care with Life threatening injuries.

As the day unfolded the young man sadly died from his injuries. Cherry fought her injuries but to no avail. She passed away on the 21st of November 1975. She was buried wearing her uniform and laid to rest in Altnagelvin Cemetery.

Mr Mullan continued: “35 years have passed away and every year it was my intention to pay tribute , but I am glad I waited. When I was in her parents home I looked at her picture on the sitting room wall, how attractive and young she looked in her uniform she loved and wore with pride. Lovely eyes and pearl white teeth and no skin wrinkles and all of a sudden I realised here was a man approaching 70 years-old, grey hair, wrinkles and top row of front teeth missing and that Cherry would never age, hence the saying: ‘They will never grow old.’

Mr Mullan added; “Cherry it was a pleasure to serve in the Royal Ulster Constabulary with you. I liked people who were willing to work and you proved that on a number of occasions, sadly on one of those you paid the supreme price.”

“I was unable to attend your funeral and now I can be at peace after committing to paper my thoughts about you.”