Western Port
Features inside
Western Port
realestate 16 July 2013
CLASSIFIEDS
PAGES 49–50 WESTERN PORT SCOREBOARD
PAGES 51–53 MOTORING
PAGES 54–55
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16 July – 22 July 20 2013 013 3
MPNEWS (1300 676 397) or email: team@mpnews.com.au www.mpnews.com.au
Community mourns Grief over loved jeweller’s death By Mike Hast and Cam McCullough HUNDREDS of floral tributes have been placed outside the Jewel Shed in Hastings to remember and honour popular jeweller Dermot O’Toole. Mr O’Toole, 64, was killed during an armed robbery of his store in High St on Friday at about 5pm. He was stabbed after coming to the aid of his wife Bridget, 63, who was confronted by a robber as the couple was closing their store. Ambulance paramedics rushed to the shop but could not save Mr O’Toole. Mrs O’Toole received knife wounds to an arm and was taken to Frankston Hospital about 6pm. She was released on Saturday night after surgery. Homicide Squad police arrested Gavin Perry, 26, of Crib Point on Saturday and charged him with murder, armed robbery and intentionally causing serious injury. He was remanded to appear in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Monday. His arrest followed reports of a burnt-out car being found in Crib Point on Friday night, similar to the one allegedly used as a getaway vehicle and seen by eyewitnesses. The death of Mr O’Toole has rocked the tight-knit Hastings community with an extraordinary outpouring of grief displayed by floral tributes as well as messages on social media, including the Jewel Shed’s Facebook page. On Sunday at 1pm, the couple’s three sons Christian, and twins Dale and Trent read a statement to Melbourne and local media in front of the Jewel Shed. Christian O’Toole, the eldest son, said the family had been concentrating its energies on their mum Bridget. “After we left the hospital, we stopped here to look at this beautiful tribute to a life
happily lived,” he said. “We felt that we needed to publicly thank those who have helped us.” He said their mum and dad were inseparable. “He was devoted to her. Nothing demonstrates this devotion more than the way in which he was so tragically taken from us.” Christian O’Toole firstly thanked “those who rushed to help dad by administering CPR and calling for help”. The compassion and professionalism of Victoria Police and Ambulance Victoria “made a real difference to us in our grief”. Staff at Frankston Hospital had been “wonderful”. “The way in which they cared for mum was a source of immense comfort not only to her, but us also. We could never have asked for better treatment. “We reserve our final thank you to the community. We have been simply overwhelmed.” While the three sons made their statement, several people walked up and put flowers on the footpath outside the store. A mother and her young daughter placed flowers and then walked around TV cameras to hug the three men, who they knew. Christian O’Toole said his father and mother had three grandchildren and one on the way, the child of Dale. Trent O’Toole said his parents had operated their jewellery store in Hastings for 27 years. The Jewel Shed moved across High St to larger premises about two months ago. Christian O’Toole told The News the funeral of his father would be public. A date and location had not yet been decided, he said. More stories and pictures on Pages 2-3.
SUNDAY 28TH JULY
PRESENT THIS VOUCHER
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