Have-a-go hero Barclays boss dies after trying to stop street assault
A TOP banking executive died yesterday from injuries he received while trying to break up a street brawl.
Frank McGarahan, 45, chief operating officer of Barclays Wealth, was enjoying a night out with his family when he saw a young couple being assaulted.
He went to intervene but was beaten up near a taxi rank in Norwich and sustained severe head injuries.
He was taken to hospital but died yesterday lunchtime.
Last night a spokesman for Mr McGarahan’s family described him as a “fantastic family man” who had paid the “ultimate price for trying to be a good citizen”.
He said the bank boss, married to wife Alison and with two young daughters, one aged just four months, had travelled to Norwich for a niece’s christening.
Speaking from the family home in Much Hadham near Ware, Herts, the spokesman said: “He was a very fair-minded man.
“He has seen something right in front of him and he tried to help a young lad and his girlfriend who were being viciously attacked. He tried to break it up and paid with his life.
“It’s terrible when a man cannot go out and have a quiet family meal on what should have been a very joyous occasion but ends up paying with his life trying to help someone out.”
Norfolk Police, who have launched a murder inquiry, were last night reviewing CCTV footage in Norwich city centre and appealed for anyone who saw the attack on Sunday at 3am to come forward.
A large group of men were reportedly seen running away from the area shortly after Mr McGarahan was beaten up.
Detective Superintendent Chris Hobley said: “We are very keen to hear from anyone who may have seen something or has any information.”
Law graduate Mr McGarahan worked for Deutsche Bank before being appointed head of compliance at Barclays Capital and then managing director in 2000.
His meteoric rise continued when he was made chief operating officer of Barclays Wealth – the UK’s largest wealth manager – putting him in charge of 7,700 staff and assets worth £133billion belonging to some of the world’s most wealthy people.
A spokeswoman for Barclays yesterday said: “Our thoughts are with his wife and family. They have asked for privacy at this time.”
A post mortem was due to be carried out today.
