Loyalist Murderer Given 15 months Custodial Sentence For Threatening Aontú Deputy Leader Denise Mullen

Today Loyalist murderer Garfield Beattie has received a 15 months custodial sentence for threatening Aontú Deputy Leader Cllr Denise Mullen. Garfield Beattie was a member of the British Army’s Territorial Army Volunteer Reserve. He was also a member of the Glenanne Gang that murdered Denise’s father at their family home in 1975. Garfield Beattie had sent a threatening letter to Denise and signed it the ‘East Tyrone UVF’.

Speaking after the sentence was handed down Cllr Denise Mullen stated; “I am so relieved that this sentence has been handed down. I have lived in real fear over the last while. I have been checking my rear view mirrors on my car when I am out driving to make sure that no one is following me. This man murdered my father and tried to murder my mother. He has already caused over 4 decades of pain and suffering in my family and now he has created anxiety and fear again”.

“We will not allow this man to ever threaten our family again. Myself, Aontú Leader Peadar Tóibín TD, Eugene Reavey and Noel O’Dowd will be meeting with the Taoiseach Mícheál Martin, in Government Buildings on Monday next. We will seek to impact on him the fact that the Glenanne Gang murdered 120 innocent Catholics throughout this part of the north of Ireland and so many of us have not yet achieved justice. This is a good day for justice but we will not rest until families know what happened to their loved ones and achieve justice for their families”.

The Irish political system is radically broken

In Ireland the vast majority of elected representatives put a finger in the air to check which way the political wind is blowing. They have one eye on their leaders – seeking brownie points – and another eye keeping their seat safe. If elected reps shut up and do as they’re told, they are promoted; if they stand up for what they believe in, they are demoted. No wonder we have the political class we have. No wonder one point one billion euro is being buried in a hole under the National Children’s Hospital and that Stormont is in stalemate.

Throughout Ireland, many people are now afraid to say what they feel, many are afraid to respectfully engage on a range of different topics. Many feel there is a new censorship and a new political correctness in Ireland, that opposition to the establishment is being deleted.

Respectful opposition is not the enemy. Respectful opposition is a critical element of a functional democracy. Aontú will have the backbone to stand up, without fear, for you.