Latest news with #MarianBeattie
BreakingNews.ie
26-06-2025
- BreakingNews.ie
Independent review recommended for investigation into murdered teenager
An independent review has been recommended of the police investigation into the murder of a teenager in Co Tyrone in 1973. It comes after the Office of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland found 'numerous failings' in how police handled the case, and just eight documented contacts with police and 18-year-old Marian Beattie's family. Advertisement It also found that the three suspects had paramilitary links, and two were former police officers. The Police Ombudsman's chief executive, Hugh Hume, said Ms Beattie's family did not receive the service they deserved from the police. Hadden's Quarry in Aughnacloy where the body of Marian Beattie was found (PSNI/PA) Ms Beattie's partially clothed body was found at the bottom of a quarry. She had been attending a charity dance at Hadden's Garage in Aughnacloy on March 30th, 1973, to listen to her brother playing in the band. Advertisement The teenager was last seen leaving the dance with a young man just after 1am and walking in the direction of Hadden's Quarry. No one has ever been charged or convicted over her murder. In 2017, then Police Service of Northern Ireland chief constable George Hamilton referred the case to the Police Ombudsman. The Ombudsman investigation found that police failed to ensure that all lines of inquiry were progressed, that all suspects were interviewed, that all alibis were checked, and that discrepancies between some suspects' accounts and other evidence were examined. Advertisement An independent review has been recommended. Mr Hume said they found organisational and systemic failings. 'In 50-plus years after her murder, up until earlier this year, there were only eight documented contacts between the police and the family,' he said. 'It is understandable that they have lost confidence and trust in the police,' he said. Advertisement 'Although our inquiries found no evidence of individual police criminality, nor misconduct by any serving officer, the police investigation of Marian's murder has been undermined by organisational and systemic failings.' The Ombudsman investigation also considered information from the Beattie family that police made comments on four separate occasions that led them to believe there were potential links between suspects and either police, military/security services or paramilitaries. They found while there were no police records of this being discussed, available information suggests 'it is more likely than not that such comments had been made'. The Ombudsman's Office also said it found that three suspects had paramilitary links, and two were former police officers. Advertisement In addition, while clear lines of inquiry were outstanding in relation to the suspects known to have potential paramilitary and police connections, this was not unique to these suspects. The investigation was described as being unable to establish whether or not these connections had any impact upon the police investigation. Mr Hume said they hope the independent review they have recommended may bring Ms Beattie's killer to justice. 'Although our investigation has found significant errors and omissions during the police inquiries into Marian's murder, it is my hope that the independent review we have recommended will ensure that every effort is made to uncover the truth about her murder, and to finally bring her killer, if still alive, to justice,' he said. He added that while Ms Beattie was murdered in 1973, lessons of relevance to current policing could be learned. 'At the time of Marian's murder the police faced significant policing challenges, with hundreds of murders each year being attributed to 'the Troubles', and that context was taken into account during our inquiries,' he said. 'Nevertheless, we must learn from past errors and omissions, particularly if we are to properly address the problem of violence against women and girls in local society. Northern Ireland has the second-highest levels of femicide in western Europe. 'Unfortunately, the Police Ombudsman has found a similar lack of investigative rigour and pre-emptive conclusions in some recent PSNI femicide investigations. 'Police Ombudsman investigations are critical to learning lessons, and it is my hope that our recommendation for an independent review will help to ensure that future police inquiries into Marian's murder are comprehensive and focused.' Belfast solicitor Darragh Mackin. Photo: Niall Carson/PA Solicitor Darragh Mackin, acting for Ms Beattie's family, said the report should 'serve as a lightning strike reminder of the need for urgent and immediate action to ensure no other women are systematically failed by the very state that should protect them'. He said the family 'now look forward to engaging with the Chief Constable in the weeks ahead'. 'The facts of this investigation speak for themselves. In 50 years the police contacted this family a mere eight times. Such blatant disregard for the family of Marian is indicative of the inherent unenthusiastic approach adopted,' he said. 'Today's revelations confirm that three suspects had paramilitary links and two were former police officers. The family have always believed that such connections have played a direct role in the obfuscation and procrastination adopted, in failing to investigate Marian's murder.' Ireland Search of Dublin property as part of Annie McCarri... Read More He went on: 'Marian's report confirms that women in this jurisdiction have not been safe for five decades. 'Today's report should serve as a lightning strike reminder of the need for urgent and immediate action to ensure no other women are systematically failed by the very state that should protect them. 'Gender based violence had no place in society in 1973 and it has no place in 2025. In Marian's memory, it is time for action.'
Irish Times
26-06-2025
- Irish Times
NI ombudsman recommends review of police investigation into murder of Marian Beattie
An independent review has been recommended of the police investigation into the murder of teenager Marian Beattie in Co Tyrone in 1973. It comes after the Office of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland found 'numerous failings' in how police handled the case, and just eight documented contacts with police and 18-year-old Beattie's family. It also found that the three suspects had paramilitary links, and two were former police officers. The ombudsman's chief executive, Hugh Hume, said Ms Beattie's family did not receive the service they deserved from the police. READ MORE Ms Beattie's partially clothed body was found at the bottom of a quarry. She had been attending a charity dance at Hadden's Garage in Aughnacloy on Friday, March 30th, 1973 to listen to her brother playing in the band. The teenager was last seen leaving the dance with a young man just after 1am and walking in the direction of Hadden's Quarry. Her partially clothed body was discovered at the bottom of the nearby quarry shortly after 6am the following morning. No one has ever been charged or convicted over her murder. In 2017, then Police Service of Northern Ireland chief constable George Hamilton referred the case to the ombudsman. The ombudsman investigation found that police failed to ensure that all lines of inquiry were progressed, that all suspects were interviewed, that all alibis were checked, and that discrepancies between some suspects' accounts and other evidence were examined. An independent review has been recommended. Mr Hume said they found organisational and systemic failings. 'In 50-plus years after her murder, up until earlier this year, there were only eight documented contacts between the police and the family,' Mr Hume said. 'It is understandable that they have lost confidence and trust in the police. 'Although our inquiries found no evidence of individual police criminality, nor misconduct by any serving officer, the police investigation of Marian's murder has been undermined by organisational and systemic failings.' The ombudsman investigation also considered information from the Beattie family that police made comments on four separate occasions that led them to believe there were potential links between suspects and either police, military/security services or paramilitaries. They found while there were no police records of this being discussed, available information suggests 'it is more likely than not that such comments had been made'. The ombudsman's office also said it found that three suspects had paramilitary links, and two were former police officers. In addition, while clear lines of inquiry were outstanding in relation to the suspects known to have potential paramilitary and police connections, this was not unique to these suspects. The investigation was described as being unable to establish whether or not these connections had any impact upon the police investigation. Mr Hume said they hope the independent review they have recommended may bring Ms Beattie's killer to justice. 'Although our investigation has found significant errors and omissions during the police inquiries into Marian's murder, it is my hope that the independent review we have recommended will ensure that every effort is made to uncover the truth about her murder, and to finally bring her killer, if still alive, to justice,' Mr Hume said. He added that while Ms Beattie was murdered in 1973, lessons of relevance to current policing could be learned. 'At the time of Marian's murder the police faced significant policing challenges, with hundreds of murders each year being attributed to 'the Troubles', and that context was taken into account during our inquiries,' Mr Hume said. 'Nevertheless, we must learn from past errors and omissions, particularly if we are to properly address the problem of violence against women and girls in local society. Northern Ireland has the second-highest levels of femicide in western Europe. 'Unfortunately, the police ombudsman has found a similar lack of investigative rigour and pre-emptive conclusions in some recent PSNI femicide investigations. 'Police Ombudsman investigations are critical to learning lessons, and it is my hope that our recommendation for an independent review will help to ensure that future police inquiries into Marian's murder are comprehensive and focused.' -PA
The Independent
26-06-2025
- The Independent
Independent review recommended for police investigation into murdered teenager
An independent review has been recommended of the police investigation into the murder of a teenager in Co Tyrone in 1973. It comes after the Office of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland found 'numerous failings' in how police handled the case, and just eight documented contacts with police and 18-year-old Marian Beattie's family. It also found that the three suspects had paramilitary links, and two were former police officers. The Police Ombudsman's chief executive, Hugh Hume, said Ms Beattie's family did not receive the service they deserved from the police. Ms Beattie's partially clothed body was found at the bottom of a quarry. She had been attending a charity dance at Hadden's Garage in Aughnacloy on Friday March 30 1973 to listen to her brother playing in the band. The teenager was last seen leaving the dance with a young man just after 1am and walking in the direction of Hadden's Quarry. No one has ever been charged or convicted over her murder. In 2017, then Police Service of Northern Ireland chief constable George Hamilton referred the case to the Police Ombudsman. The Ombudsman investigation found that police failed to ensure that all lines of inquiry were progressed, that all suspects were interviewed, that all alibis were checked, and that discrepancies between some suspects' accounts and other evidence were examined. An independent review has been recommended. Mr Hume said they found organisational and systemic failings. 'In 50-plus years after her murder, up until earlier this year, there were only eight documented contacts between the police and the family,' he said. 'It is understandable that they have lost confidence and trust in the police,' he said. 'Although our inquiries found no evidence of individual police criminality, nor misconduct by any serving officer, the police investigation of Marian's murder has been undermined by organisational and systemic failings.' The Ombudsman investigation also considered information from the Beattie family that police made comments on four separate occasions that led them to believe there were potential links between suspects and either police, military/security services or paramilitaries. They found while there were no police records of this being discussed, available information suggests 'it is more likely than not that such comments had been made'. The Ombudsman's Office also said it found that three suspects had paramilitary links, and two were former police officers. In addition, while clear lines of inquiry were outstanding in relation to the suspects known to have potential paramilitary and police connections, this was not unique to these suspects. The investigation was described as being unable to establish whether or not these connections had any impact upon the police investigation. Mr Hume said they hope the independent review they have recommended may bring Ms Beattie's killer to justice. 'Although our investigation has found significant errors and omissions during the police inquiries into Marian's murder, it is my hope that the independent review we have recommended will ensure that every effort is made to uncover the truth about her murder, and to finally bring her killer, if still alive, to justice,' he said. He added that while Ms Beattie was murdered in 1973, lessons of relevance to current policing could be learned. 'At the time of Marian's murder the police faced significant policing challenges, with hundreds of murders each year being attributed to 'the Troubles', and that context was taken into account during our inquiries,' he said. 'Nevertheless, we must learn from past errors and omissions, particularly if we are to properly address the problem of violence against women and girls in local society. Northern Ireland has the second-highest levels of femicide in western Europe. 'Unfortunately, the Police Ombudsman has found a similar lack of investigative rigour and pre-emptive conclusions in some recent PSNI femicide investigations. 'Police Ombudsman investigations are critical to learning lessons, and it is my hope that our recommendation for an independent review will help to ensure that future police inquiries into Marian's murder are comprehensive and focused.' Solicitor Darragh Mackin, acting for Ms Beattie's family, said the report should 'serve as a lightning strike reminder of the need for urgent and immediate action to ensure no other women are systematically failed by the very state that should protect them'. He said the family 'now look forward to engaging with the Chief Constable in the weeks ahead'. 'The facts of this investigation speak for themselves. In 50 years the police contacted this family a mere eight times. Such blatant disregard for the family of Marian is indicative of the inherent unenthusiastic approach adopted,' he said. 'Today's revelations confirm that three suspects had paramilitary links and two were former police officers. The family have always believed that such connections have played a direct role in the obfuscation and procrastination adopted, in failing to investigate Marian's murder.' He went on: 'Marian's report confirms that women in this jurisdiction have not been safe for five decades. 'Today's report should serve as a lightning strike reminder of the need for urgent and immediate action to ensure no other women are systematically failed by the very state that should protect them. 'Gender based violence had no place in society in 1973 and it has no place in 2025. In Marian's memory, it is time for action.'
Belfast Telegraph
26-06-2025
- Belfast Telegraph
Two ex-police officers among suspects in NI teen's unsolved murder as report finds ‘systematic failings' in probe
It comes after a new report found a series of blunders in the original investigation into Marian Beattie's death. The 18-year-old's partially-clothed body was found at the bottom of a quarry near Aughnacloy after she had left a dance with an unidentified male in the early hours of March 31, 1973. No one has ever been charged with or convicted of her murder. A Police Ombudsman report said there had been 'systemic failings' in the investigation. Three suspects had paramilitary links and two were former police officers. The report found police had failed to ensure all lines of enquiry were progressed, that all suspects were interviewed and that all alibis were checked. Officers also did not ensure discrepancies between some suspects' accounts and other evidence were examined. Police Ombudsman chief executive Hugh Hume said Marian's family had not received the service that they deserved from the police. 'In 50-plus years after her murder, up until earlier this year, there were only eight documented contacts between the police and the family,' he said. "It is understandable that they have lost confidence and trust in the police. 'Although our enquiries found no evidence of individual police criminality, nor misconduct by any serving officer, the police investigation of Marian's murder has been undermined by organisational and systemic failings.' Mr Hume added that although Marian was murdered in 1973, there were lessons to be learned from the case of relevance to current policing. 'At the time of Marian's murder the police faced significant policing challenges, with hundreds of murders each year being attributed to the Troubles, and that context was taken into account during our enquiries,' he added. 'Nevertheless, we must learn from past errors and omissions, particularly if we are to properly address the problem of violence against women and girls in local society. Northern Ireland has the second-highest levels of femicide in western Europe,' he said. 'Unfortunately, the Police Ombudsman has found a similar lack of investigative rigour and pre-emptive conclusions in some recent PSNI femicide investigations.' He added: 'It is my hope that our recommendation for an independent review will help to ensure that future police enquiries into Marian's murder are comprehensive and focused.' The Police Ombudsman's investigation was initiated by a referral received from the then Chief Constable in 2017. Marian went missing after attending a dance at Hadden's Garage near Aughnacloy, attended by 400-500 people, on the evening of March 30/31 1973. She had gone there with a friend and her older brother, and was last seen walking in the direction of Hadden's Quarry with an unidentified male. After being reported missing, her body was found at the bottom of the quarry, beneath a 90 foot drop, the next morning. A post mortem examination concluded Marian had died from multiple injuries - some consistent with a fall, but others deemed to have been sustained separately. Items from the scene, including clothing and forensic samples, were sent for forensic testing, but all are now missing. These include a shoe which had a palm print, formed in mud, which became a significant focus for police. Mr Hume said there had been an over-reliance on the palm print. 'More weight was placed on the value of the palm print to the investigation than it could bear," he added, saying it was also based on the assumption that the print had been left by her killer. Investigators found the examination of palm prints were the only enquiries conducted in relation to three suspects, resulting in their exclusion from the investigation prematurely. Mr Hume said significant outstanding lines of enquiry in relation to suspects that had not been pursued. In particular, Ombudsman investigators found no evidence that police conducted any interviews with a number of suspects; checked a number of suspect alibis; or made enquiries about the whereabouts of some suspects on the night. Discrepancies between the accounts of some suspects and other evidence were not properly examined, investigators found. The Ombudsman probe was also hampered by the loss of police exhibits and documentation. This includes documentary evidence, statements, records of interviews with witness and suspects, and officers' journals, and completed questionnaires from 419 people at the dance are also missing. All physical exhibits recovered during the initial police investigation are also missing. Mr Hume said: 'If these exhibits had been available, it may have been possible to have conducted further forensic testing using current forensic capabilities, and it is possible that this may have resulted in the identification of the person responsible for Marian's murder." The investigation found that up until earlier this year, there are only eight documented contacts between police and Marian's family in the five decades since her murder - although investigators noted that records of the actions taken by police were incomplete. 'Marian's family have lost confidence in the police. There should have been greater levels of communication and transparency," Mr Hume said. Family members told Ombudsman investigators that police had made comments on four separate occasions that led them to believe there were potential links between suspects and either police, military/security services or paramilitaries. Although there were no police records of this being discussed, available information suggests it is more likely than not that such comments had been made. The Police Ombudsman investigation found that three suspects had paramilitary links and two were former police officers. 'Although our investigation has found significant errors and omissions during the police enquiries into Marian's murder, it is my hope that the independent review we have recommended will ensure that every effort is made to uncover the truth about her murder, and to finally bring her killer, if still alive, to justice,' Mr Hume said.
BBC News
26-06-2025
- BBC News
Marian Beattie: Watchdog finds 'numerous failings' in murder investigation
Northern Ireland's policing watchdog has identified "numerous failings" into how the murder of a woman was investigated 50 years Beattie, 18, from Portadown, County Armagh, was last seen leaving a charity dance in Aughnacloy, County Tyrone, on 30 March was observed leaving the premises with a young man just after 01:00 but five hours later her partially-clothed body was found at the bottom of a quarry between Aughnacloy and has ever been charged in connection with her death, which police described at the time as a "vicious and cruel murder, with sadistic overtones". Ms Beattie's family had referred the case to the Police Ombudsman's office after they had raised concerns about the police's ombudsman's office has recommended an independent review should be carried out into the murder of Ms a report published on Thursday, it found that police had failed to ensure that all lines of enquiry were progressed; that all suspects were interviewed; that all alibis were checked; and that discrepancies between some suspects' accounts and other evidence were examined. What happened to Marian Beattie? In late March 1973, Marian Beattie went to a charity dance at Hadden's Garage on the outskirts of Aughnacloy with her best friend and the night she was seen dancing with a young man. She left with him after 01: body was found in the early hours of the following day at the bottom of the nearby quarry, and the police opened a murder month, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said it was reviewing the murder and appealed to anyone with fresh information to come Beattie's brother, Gerard Beattie, previously told BBC News NI that his family have never recovered from her murder. Investigation 'undermined by systemic failings' Police Ombudsman chief executive Hugh Hume said that in the 50-plus years since the murder, "there were only eight documented contacts between the police and the family"."It is understandable that they have lost confidence and trust in the police."Although our enquiries found no evidence of individual police criminality, nor misconduct by any serving officer, the police investigation of Marian's murder has been undermined by organisational and systemic failings." The ombudsman investigation found that Northern Ireland's police force at the time, the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC), reacted quickly following the discovery of Ms Beattie's body, dispatching Criminal Investigation Department (CID) officers and a Scenes of Crime were recovered, including articles of clothing and forensic samples. These were submitted for analysis to the forensic science laboratory and returned to the police on 18 January is no record of what happened to them after their return to police and all are now missing, the ombudsman said. They include a palm print, formed in mud on the heel of Ms Beattie's right shoe, which became a significant focus for police. Although a photograph of the print does still exist, the shoe is the initial investigation a large number of palm prints were obtained to compare against the print on Ms Beattie's shoe. No match was Mr Hume said that although palm prints formed a central aspect of police enquiries, this was problematic for a number of included the poor quality of the muddy print found on Ms Beattie's shoe. Mr Hume said it was clear from the evidence that enquiries relating to this print "would not be capable of providing a positive identification".He said ombudsman investigators had also found no evidence that police had:conducted any interviews with a number of suspectschecked a number of suspect alibismade enquiries about the whereabouts of some suspects on the night of the murderexamined discrepancies between the accounts of some suspects and other evidenceundertaken any intelligence work in relation to suspectsshown a photograph of Marian to witnesses during their initial enquiries, or asked whether they had seen her leaving the dance hallPolice were found to have made only limited use of identification procedures in a bid to establish the identity of the male seen leaving the dance with physical exhibits recovered during the initial police investigation are also missing, and Mr Hume said this had had "a serious" impact on police investigations."If these exhibits had been available, it may have been possible to have conducted further forensic testing using current forensic capabilities, and it is possible that this may have resulted in the identification of the person responsible for Marian's murder," he Police Ombudsman's investigation acknowledged, however, that efforts were made by police in the mid-2000s to locate the missing exhibits, consisting of searches at Dungannon, Omagh and Aughnacloy police stations, which were ultimately unsuccessful. Mr Hume added that although Marian was murdered in 1973, there were lessons to be learned from the case of relevance to current News NI has contacted the PSNI for comment.
