Loyalist killer’s sentence increased for sending menacing letter

The Appeal Court has increased by two months, the sentence handed down to Loyalist killer Garfield Beattie for sending an intimating letter to the daughter of one of his victims.

Last month the 64-year-old of Moss Road, Annaghmore, Portadown was sentenced to 15 months for sending the letter to Mid Ulster councillor Denise Mullen, purporting to come from ‘East Tyrone UVF’. He appealed the length of sentence and this morning (Monday) it was increased to 17 months. He will spend eight months and two weeks in custody and the remaining half of the sentence on licence.

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

As well as the murder of Mr Mullen, Beattie was also convicted of killing Patrick McNeice, aged 50, outside his home near Loughgall, and 48-year-old father-of-four Fred McLoughlin, who died in a UVF gun and bomb attack on the Eagle Bar in Charlemont.

He also admitted a number of other terrorist offences, including the attempted murder of Olive Mullen, the wife of Denis Mullen.

On September 12, 1977, he was sentenced to three life sentences and served nearly 17 years in jail.

He sent the letter in September last year to intimidate her into discontinuing legal action to seize his assets for murdering her father.

The letter read, “It has been brought to our attention you are taking High Court against Mr Garfield Beattie. This is nothing more than an act initiated by a personal vendetta. This will have ramifications and consequences.

“We will be unambiguous. There will most certainly be ramifications for the fragile Good Friday Agreement. There will be personal consequences for yourself and your immediate family.

“Therefore you are being strongly advised to think again and consider the long-term consequences for your own personal health.

“Signed East Tyrone Ulster Volunteer Force”.

Beattie contested the charge in the Magistrates Court and claimed it was intimating that the legal action would affect Ms Mullen’s health. He also said it was not meant to intimate Ms Mullen or her family and that it was a ‘mistake’ to sign the letter as coming from ‘East Tyrone UVF’ and he had not wanted to create that impression.

Ms Mullen reported that Beattie had placed herself and all of her family in “fear and harm”.

The Appeal Court Judge described the murder of her father as “brutal savage and sectarian”.

He said, “This letter is totally reprehensible. It is of an individual who expresses no remorse for the brutal murder in 1975.

“It is most disturbing and threatening in its content and was calculated to instil fear in Ms Mullen and her family”.

The judge also imposed a three year restraining order forbidding Beattie from harassing or pestering Ms Mullen or her family or contacting her directly or directly or referring to her on social media.