An investigation into a severe beating behind a Courtenay bar in 2007 is being reopened by Comox Valley RCMP after the victim came forward with renewed hope that the case might be solved.
Perry Gallagher was leaving the Courtenay House Hotel, a now-demolished strip club, on March 8, 2007, when he was attacked outside. He was found unconscious and hypothermic at 7 a.m. and flown to Victoria General Hospital. He suffered bleeding in the brain, a fractured jaw and three broken ribs.
Due to brain trauma, Gallagher has no recollection of what happened to him. He was interviewed by Comox Valley RCMP at the time but no arrests were made.
The 49-year-old went back to police in November after he heard through media reports that a Victoria man named Matthew Holland, a police agent paid more than $130,000 by the RCMP to help nab a cocaine dealer, admitted under oath to being involved in a similar crime.
During the October drug trial of Douglas Ketch, Holland said he might have killed two people, including a man he beat up behind a Courtenay nightclub. Holland did not give a timeline for the Courtenay beating but estimated it was “20-something years ago.”
The similarities were too striking for Gallagher to ignore. RCMP obtained his medical records and re-opened the case.
“They’re taking it pretty seriously which is a good thing,” he said Wednesday.
Gallagher hopes investigators will interview Holland about his claims. “He can’t think that he can confess to something and nothing happen to him. I just pray to the lord something will happen.”
E Division RCMP, which paid Holland to carry out the drug sting, said it investigated the two beatings Holland spoke about and could not find any corroborating evidence for his claims.
Holland’s testimony cannot be used against him in a criminal case, as evidence under oath can be used only in a prosecution for perjury or giving inconsistent evidence.
Comox Valley RCMP Const. Monika Terragni said police are looking for anyone who might be able to remember important details of the attack.Comox Valley RCMP can be contacted at 250-338-1321, and Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), or comoxvalleycrimestoppers.bc.ca.
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