Bereaved drunk driving families 'tried in vain' to meet Doug Beattie

The father of a young man “murdered” by a drunk driver has revealed he “tried in vain” to arrange a meeting with UUP leader Doug Beattie prior to the recent local elections.

Martin Gallagher Sr, whose son, Martin Jr (25) was killed at Hallowe’en 2009 as he crossed the Racecourse Road in the city, had concerns about the UUP’s selection of convicted drunk driver, Derek Hussey, as an election candidate.

Martin Sr was speaking to Derry News, on behalf of his own family and the family of Robert Bradley Jr (20), also from the city, killed by a drunk driver on December 16, 2000 as he walked home from his work in the Students’ Union of Nottingham Trent University.

He said: “When Robin Swann was leader of the UUP [April 2017 to November 2019] that’s how far back we are going, we phoned and phoned, in vain,  to see if we could get an appointment with him about Derek Hussey, a convicted drunk driver, representing the party. 

“Derek Hussey has three convictions for drunk driving. The most recent was in March 2016 and followed earlier convictions in 2004 and 2011. However, Mr Swann’s attitude seemed to be, ‘He’s a member of my party and I stand by him’.

“Subsequently, in July 2019, following a complaint to the Local Government Commissioner of Standards by our two families, Derek Hussey was disqualified from Derry City and Strabane District Council for 15 months. It was left to the families because no-one else seemed to want to do anything about it.

“The Bradley family and ourselves feel that our sons weren’t killed, they were murdered. If that man had gone out with a gun and done the same thing, he would have got life in prison. Drunk drivers are treated very leniently. The men who killed Martin and Bobby were only sentenced to three years each,” said Martin Sr.

Martin Sr said the two families had requested a meeting with Mr Hussey but this had been refused.

“When we heard he was standing for election again in May, we asked for a meeting with Doug Beattie, the current UUP leader to make him aware of our concerns,” said Martin Sr.

“Aileen Tester, Bobby Bradley Jr’s sister, phoned Mr Beattie’s secretary repeatedly seeking a meeting, but her requests were ignored.

“The way the two families feel is, ‘How can Derry City and Strabane District councillors who have been elected, go in and sit in Council with Mr Hussey?’

“We are mystified about the fact Mr Hussey did not receive a custodial sentence for his third drunk driving conviction.”
Martin Sr said he believed that Derry City and Strabane District Council did not care about road safety.

“Martin in 14 years dead this October and Council has never changed its policy on road safety.

“A few years ago, there was one supportive councillor, Mary Hamilton, who was a member of the UUP. Mary spent a lifetime on road safety and she is a lady. Bobby Bradley Sr and Aileen have done the same but Derry City and Strabane District Council doesn’t seem to care.

“It should be putting messages out about road safety and drunk driving. I wonder would the attitude of the councillors change if they got a knock at their door in the early hours of the morning saying their son or daughter was killed by a drunk driver?

“We are very disappointed that Doug Beattie refused to meet us before the election. It doesn’t say much for the UUP in my eyes. Doug Beattie, Robin Swann and Derek Hussey have all refused to meet us and hear our stories. Do they have something to hide? They are not taking the feelings of families bereaved by drunk drivers into account at all.

I would still be prepared to have a meeting with Doug Beattie if he would agree to see us,” said Martin Sr.

Derek Hussey (UUP) was elected to Derry City and Strabane District Council, for the Derg ward, with an increase in his first preference votes from 1,267 in 2019 to 1,377 in May.

As a result of his 2016 conviction, Derek Hussey was suspended by the UUP however he was reinstated when he completed his community service.

In a statement to Derry News following his re-election to Derry City and Strabane District Council in May, Cllr Hussey said he was “delighted to have once again been returned by the electors of my Derg Area to Council with an increased number of votes.”

He added: “Indeed our share has moved from 40% to 45% of Unionist votes cast and we are one of the few areas where this has happened throughout Northern Ireland.

“I extend my sincere thanks to my wife and Election Agent, Karen, to constant 'side-kick' Richard, to Flora for her invaluable assistance in the Drumlegagh area and finally my gratitude to the 1377 electors who put their faith in me through their first preference votes together with 1500+ second preferences.

“Well done also to the voters of the Derg who continue to exercise their rights with an over 63% turnout on Thursday [May 18, 2023].  It will continue to be a privilege to represent the Derg Area on Council and try to ensure that our area receives its due consideration of service allocation alongside Council's overall resource distribution,” said Cllr Hussey. 

Cllr Hussey added that, from a Unionist prospective, it was clear the next four years would be challenging for all Unionist representatives.

“But I will not shirk my representational duty in making sure that all voices from the Derg are heard and listened to in our Council chamber.”