Appeal adjourned as loyalist killer Beattie in prison isolation

LOYALIST killer Garfield Beattie’s appeal against a 15 months prison sentence he received for intimidating Mid Ulster councillor Denise Mullen has been adjourned until next Monday (13).

It was due to be held last Thursday (2) but the Appeal Court, sitting in Omagh, was told the 64-year-old is in isolation at Maghaberry jail as is the rule for new prisoners for the first two weeks due to Covid regulations. He was sentenced and taken into custody the previous Friday, six days earlier.

Beattie and other members of the UVF shot dead Ms Mullen’s father, Denis Mullen (35), at his home, near Moy, in September 1975.

He had tried to intimidate her into discontinuing legal action to seize his assets for murdering her father. He also wrote in the letter that her legal action would have long-term implications for the Good Friday Agreement.

Beattie of Moss Road, Annaghmore, Portadown, was part of the notorious Glenanne murder gang in the 1970s. On September 12, 1977, he received three life sentences for three sectarian murders and served nearly 17 years in jail. He also admitted other terrorist offences, including the attempted murder of Olive Mullen, the wife of Denis Mullen.

In the letter sent last September, Beattie warned Cllr Mullen that there would be “consequences” for her and her immediate family if she did not abandon her action against him. The letter was signed, ‘East Tyrone UVF’.

District Judge Michael Ranaghan also imposed an indefinite restraining order, forbidding him from contacting Ms Mullen, either directly or indirectly, or referring to her or her family on social media.

He was granted leave to appeal the sentence but refused bail while awaiting the appeal hearing.

At the Appeal Court, defence barrister Tom McCreanor said Beattie could not be on the sightlink but was “anxious” for the hearing to proceed.

However the Judge said that Beattie “must be present” for the Appeal hearing.

He added, “Justice should be seen to be done with the defendant hearing precisely what the position is, so I intend to adjourn this appeal until the appellant can be produced to the court’s satisfaction”.

The Appeal was adjourned until December 13. Mr McCreanor indicated he will seek High Court bail to have Beattie released before that date.