Meeting Glenanne gang victims
Deputy Tóibín raised the case of Denise Mullen and asked to meet the family and victims of the Glenanne gang. The Taoiseach said he had no difficulty meeting them, condemned the gang's actions, and offered to arrange a meeting.
Denise Mullen is an Aontú councillor in Mid Ulster. Some 46 years ago, the Glenanne gang murdered her father in the family home. Denise, who was four years old at the time, came upon her father's lifeless body and was forced to stay there for two hours due to fears there was a bomb in the house. Garfield Beattie was convicted of the murder of Denise's father. Mr. Beattie was released on licence under the Good Friday Agreement. He is a member of the Glenanne gang, which is made up of loyalists, British Army soldiers and the RUC. It is responsible for the murder of 120 innocent Catholics. Last week, Mr. Beattie was arrested for a death threat against Denise. In the same week, Fine Gael Deputy Charles Flanagan sought to undermine the campaign of the Glenanne families for justice.
I have sent requests to three taoisigh asking them to meet the victims and survivors of the Glenanne gang - one to Enda Kenny, two to Deputy Varadkar and three to the Taoiseach. I have not received a reply from any Taoiseach. Will the Taoiseach meet the victims and survivors of the Glenanne gang?
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In July. I sent the invitation on an official-----
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I have no difficulty meeting any such group. The Deputy should know that. I have met victims and the families of victims of the Glenanne gang previously. I have no issue with meeting people. What the Glenanne gang did was the worst possible manifestation of evil by any gang, perpetrated on innocent people. I have no truck with that type of thing, and I share the Deputy's empathy with the Mullen family. I would be more than happy to meet them. If the Deputy wants me to meet people in the future, he should just talk to me. There will not be an issue.