22-05-2025
‘Marian's family deserve to know what happened' – Fresh info plea over murder of teen in Tyrone quarry over 50 years ago
A FRESH appeal has been issued for information around the murder of an 18-year-old in Co Tyrone more than 50 years ago.
The
She had been attending a charity dance at Hadden's Garage in
The teenager was last seen leaving the dance with a young man just after 1am and walking in the direction of
Her body was discovered at the bottom of the nearby quarry shortly after 6am the following morning.
Detectives from the
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A spokesperson said they would like to talk to anyone who remembered seeing Ms Beattie at the dance, and who she had been talking to.
The said: 'We believe Marian left the dance at Hadden's Garage with a man, walking in the direction of the nearby car park at the top of Hadden's Quarry about 400 yards away from the garage.
'We do not know what happened next but Marian's body was found at the bottom of the quarry approximately 80-100ft below the car park.
'I appreciate this murder took place over 50 years ago but we would like to talk to anyone who was at the dance at Hadden's Garage on the night of Friday, March 30 1973.
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'Marian went there with a girlfriend to listen to her brother's band.
'Did you see who she was dancing with or speaking with? Did you see her leave the dance with a man? Do you know who he was? Did you see her in the car park at the quarry any time after 1.15am on the Saturday morning?'
Ireland's Longest Unsolved Missing Persons Cases
They have also appealed to anybody who might remember seeing anyone who was at the dance returning home distressed or with dirt on their clothes.
The said: 'Marian's family deserve to know what happened to her that night.
'I am appealing to anyone who may be able to help us progress the investigation and bring some closure to the Beattie family to come forward and speak to detectives in Legacy Investigation Branch.
'Detectives can be contacted by calling 101.'
In a TG4 documentary aired earlier this year, Marian's brother recalled the moment he found her body.
'COULD SEE HER LYING THERE'
Isadore recalled: 'We drove straight to the quarry and the strange thing about it is that when we pulled up to the quarry, we just drove straight to where she was within 50ft, 60ft. . . I could see her lying on the bottom of the quarry.
'My first reaction was to run down and get her and the two policemen said, 'No don't, we cannot allow you to go there and get her.''
He added: 'Just looking at her you knew it wasn't an accident because accidents don't happen like that.'
It emerged she had been hit with a piece of metal.
Isadore told TG4 documentary Maru Inar Measc: 'People will tell you time is a great healer. 50 years later it feels no different. When you take your younger sister away to enjoy herself and bring her home in a coffin, it's not a good feeling.
'To watch your own mother and father almost collapse in grief, that was one of the most hardest things that has ever happened to me in my life. Gut-wrenching and heartbreaking at the same time.'
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Marion's murder remains unsolved 50 years after her death
Credit: Collects
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A fresh appeal for information on her murder has been issued
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Her body was found at Hadden's Quarry in Aughnacloy
Credit: PA
