VIDEO of emotional murder appeal: ‘Glenn was obviously ill – my heart is breaking – please help us’

Glenn Quinn’s mother Ellen Quinn, and his brother Martin, both issued a video message pleading for information as the PSNI announced a £10,000 reward for any details which lead to a conviction of those responsible.

The money is being put up by Crimestoppers, and the PSNI made its renewed call for the public’s help via the BBC’s Crimewatch Roadshow Live.

Mr Quinn, who was dying of a blood disorder and was aged 47, lived in Ashleigh Park, a terraced street just off the Woodburn Road in Carrickfergus.

He suffered 50 fractures when he was beaten with blunt instruments by his assailants who had broken in on January 4 this year.

The town has been wracked in recent years by internal feuding among members of the South East Antrim UDA; a group which broke away from the mainstream of the organisation, based in south Belfast, years ago.

Mr Quinn had no known paramilitary links.

According to some media reports, he was friends with a man whose business had been attacked by the UDA.

Prior to his murder, he had been assaulted outside his home on December 29, leaving him shaken.

The PSNI said he was “well-known throughout Carrickfergus and had no known enemies,” describing him as “a good and kind man and did not deserve to die the way he did”.

His mother said in the video appeal: “He was my youngest son, and my heart is just breaking. We all miss him so much...

“From the bottom of my heart, I plead with the people of Carrickfergus.

“They know who did this. I’m asking them to come forward and help my family put these people away, before it happens to somebody belonging to them.”

Brother Martin said: “Glenn was ill. He was very clearly ill.

“Glenn wanted to spend the last year or 18 months of his life with the people that he loved.

“That has been taken away from him. It’s been taken away from us.”

He was last seen on January 2 at 2pm at the Clipperstown shops in Carrick.

Anyone who saw Glenn after that is asked to contact police.

Anyone with any information should call police on 101, or ring Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Detective Chief Inspector Darren McCartney said: “I believe the answer to Glenn’s death lies in the local community.

“We know there are people living in Carrickfergus and the surrounding areas who know what happened to Glenn.

“We need them to come forward, now is the right time to come and talk to us.

“We can put measures in place to protect you from any potential risk that is identified.

“It is clear that those responsible doesn’t represent the Carrickfergus community, as there is widespread shock and revulsion about this senseless killing.

“Everyone has the right to feel safe at home and we need to bring those responsible to justice.

“Glenn’s heartbroken family deserve answers and deserve to see these barbaric killers put behind bars.

“Please, search your conscience and take steps to stop this happening to another family by phoning police on 101 with information or contacting Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”

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