An independent review should be conducted into the murder of a Co Armagh teenager more than 50 years ago, according to a report which found numerous failings in the original police inquiry.
Eighteen-year-old Marian Beattie was found dead at the foot of a quarry near a dance hall outside the village of Aughnacloy, Co Tyrone in March 1973.
The Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland investigated after the family complained about the original Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) handling of the case.
The ombudsman found officers 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.
Two of the suspects in the killing were former police officers, three had paramilitary links, and some potential lines of enquiry had not been followed up in relation to them.
The ombudsman said this was not unique to those suspects, and was unable to establish whether their background had had any influence on the conduct of the original murder inquiry.
While there had been no evidence of criminality or misconduct on the part of detectives involved, the report found the family had been badly let down.
“In 50-plus years after her murder, up until earlier this year, 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,” said Hugh Hume chief executive of the Police Ombudsman’s office.
Ms Beattie had gone to the dance with her brother who was playing in the band.
She left the dance hall with a young man just after 1am, and was last seen walking in the direction of Hadden’s Quarry.
Her body was found at 6am the next morning lying at the foot of the quarry. She was partly clothed.
The family have said they believe her killer is still alive and might yet be brought to justice.
Between 400-500 people had attended the dance and the family believe someone must be able to identify the man she left with.
Beattie family ‘vindicated’
Ms Beattie’s family met with the Ombudsman this morning and later said that they were “delighted” with the outcome.
Colette Toman, a niece of the murdered teenager, said they still believe the killer could be caught.
She said they were dumbfounded to be told that there there had been a total of 13 suspects.
“Although it took longer than expected I think it has been worthwhile to wait on this report and an independent investigation is something that we always said was needed.
“We believe that we are now vindicated in what we said from the start in that the PSNI/RUC never completed an investigation into Marian’s murder in the way they should have.”
Marian’s three brothers stand at her memorial stone in 2023
She said the family would now await contact from the PSNI Chief Constable around establishing the independent review.
“Up until now the family had to take this investigation forward. If we hadn’t done what we did over the last 25 years I don’t think we would be here today and that in itself, is not acceptable.
“It’s not acceptable that the family were left to pursue this themselves.
“So we can only hope that this independent review will actually look at all 13 of those suspects and will take forward a proper investigation and hopefully there will be justice at the end of that.”
Northern Ireland’s Police Ombudsman took on the case on a referral from the PSNI Chief Constable in 2017.
Last month the PSNI issued a fresh appeal for information about her murder.
Detectives said Ms Beattie had left the dance at Hadden’s Garage and walked in the direction of a car park at the top of the quarry about 400 yards away.
“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.”
They asked anyone who had been at the dance to cast their minds back to whether they had seen anything that night, or whether anyone they knew had come home distressed or with dirt on their clothes.
In 2021, a man was questioned by police after presenting himself for interview.
It consists of a large boulder taken from the quarry where her body was found.
The quarry was later used as a landfill and has since been planted out as a woodland.
The case featured in a number of cold case documentaries and podcasts in recent years, reigniting interest in the murder and the search for the killer.