| John Hemsworth | |
| Birth Date: | 13 November 1958 |
| Birth Place: | Kearney, New Jersey, United States |
| Death Date: | 1 January 1998 (aged 39) |
| Death Place: | Belfast, Northern Ireland |
| Spouse: | Colette Hemsworth |
| Children: | 3 |
John Hemsworth (13 November 1958 – 1 January 1998) was an Irish-American plumber who was beaten by members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary, a beating that caused him to die from a hemorrhagic stroke in January 1998.
John Hemsworth was born on 13 November 1958, in Kearny, New Jersey, but a few years later his family immigrated to Belfast.[1]
Hemsworth would have three daughters, two in a previous relationship and one with his wife Colette Hemsworth.[2]
On 7 July 1997, Hemsworth was walking to his home on Conway Street from a night out at the St. Gall's GAA club; he would have usually gotten a taxi but they were unavailable due to the 1997 Northern Ireland riots. At around 1:45am while he was walking along Malcolmson Street, several members of the RUC assaulted him with batons and kicked him while he was on the ground, the assault left him with a broken jaw, a injured neck and severe bruising to his body.[3] [4] [5]
When Hemsworth got home, he told his wife Colette what had happened, and she advised him to seek medical treatment; he was admitted to the Royal Victoria Hospital at 2:21am.[6] [7]
In November 1997 Hemsworth was diagnosed with a panic attack by a at home doctor, after he complained of severe pain.[8]
On 27 December Hemsworth was admitted to the Belfast City Hospital after he had fallen ill, and five days later on 1 January 1998 he would die from a major hemorrhagic stroke.[9]
From 2009 to 2011 a inquest was held surrounding Hemsworth's death, and on 16 May 2011 it was found that his injuries he sustained was one of if not the main reason for his death.[10]