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Honeymooning doctor shot dead in Antigua and husband fights for life
Jack Lefley, Evening Standard28 Jul 2008
A British doctor has been killed and her husband critically injured while on a Caribbean honeymoon, police said this afternoon.
Catherine Mullany is believed to have been shot in the head during a robbery at their cottage in the grounds of a £330-a-night hotel on Antigua.
Husband Benjamin was suffering from neck wounds when they were discovered at 5am yesterday. The couple, both 31, had been due to fly home today after a two-week holiday.
The Cocos Hotel has 19 cottages, set in extensive gardens overlooking two beaches, and is said to be popular with honeymooners. Its website bills the hotel as an "exclusive resort for those looking to escape to paradise".
Tourism minister Harold Lovell said police would look at whether there were any lapses in security at the hotel, which employs guards. He said other guests had been left traumatised and some had asked to be moved.
Dr Mullany, from Pontardawe, near Swansea, studied at the Charing Cross and Westminster Medical School and graduated from the
University of London in 2002. Her father Richard was said to be devastated at the family home of Plas Farm, Cilybebyll, Pontardawe. A friend said: "He is obviously very, very upset."
One neighbour, councillor Richard Lewis, said: "My heart goes out to them after a tragedy like this. When something like this comes so close it can't help but touch you. People around here will be shocked. It's a tragedy."
Mr Mullany, a physiotherapist, was said to be in a critical condition at the Holberton Hospital on the island.
According to media reports on Antigua, at least two other people were attacked by masked gunmen over the weekend.
A spokeswoman at the hotel said they had no comment to make on the shooting.
Mr Lovell said: "Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the families of the victims of this incident at this very difficult time.
"The police are still obviously trying to work out the motive, but they think robbery will be the motive.
"We pride ourselves that Antigua is a safe and stable destination and this has come as a great shock to us.
"We want to do anything we can to allay fears and solve this heinous crime and ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice." Antigua High Commissioner Carl Roberts said more details would be made public later. Police Commissioner Gary Nelson said officers from a special task force for serious crime were responsible for the inquiry.
Antigua is regarded as safe, but the Foreign Office recently updated its advice to travellers to warn of an increase in tourists being robbed.
Dozens of pictures of the Mullanys on their wedding day on 12 July are posted on a social networking site. The photographs show the couple getting married at a rural church before celebrating at a reception. One comment read: "Congratulations! Wishing you and your husband the happiest of lives together xxx." Mrs Mullany lists her interests as sewing, cooking, reading, gardening. She added: "Worryingly similar to retired people now that I think about it."
Tributes were paid to Dr Mullany from colleagues at her hospital. Known by her maiden name of Bowen, she worked in the paediatric unit at the 600-bed Singleton Hospital in Swansea. Paediatric consultant and clinical director Mike Cosgrove, said: "We were expecting Catherine back from her honeymoon today and instead we heard this terrible news. We are all completely devastated.
"She was an excellent doctor and a lovely person, and an extremely popular member of staff.
"She had so looked forward to her wedding; she had talked about it for months. Nobody can believe what has happened." She joined Swansea NHS Trust in August 2003 and was training as a GP.
Her parents run a holiday cottage business from their farm, called Swansea Valley Holiday Cottages, and she lived close by.
A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "We can confirm a British couple were shot in Antigua yesterday. Families of both have been informed and we are providing consular assistance. The Antiguan police have launched an investigation."
