Glenn Quinn murder: Reward of £40,000 to help catch man's killers

Glenn Quinn, who was 47, was killed in his Carrickfergus home in early January 2020

The family of a man who was beaten to death in his County Antrim home have pleaded for help to find his killers on the fourth anniversary of his murder.

Police believe Glenn Quinn, who was 47, was attacked by a group of men in his house in Carrickfergus in January 2020.

His family believe individuals linked to a loyalist paramilitary group - the South East Antrim Ulster Defence Association (UDA) - were responsible.

An increased reward of £40,000 has been offered to help convict the murderers.

Mr Quinn had no connections to any crime or paramilitary gang but he was threatened after he made a throwaway remark criticising an attack by the South East Antrim UDA on a friend's business.

He was found dead in the Ashleigh Park property on 4 January that year, but detectives believe he had lain seriously injured for several days.

'Kind-hearted big gentleman'

Mr Quinn's sister, Lesley Murphy, said the killers had "deliberately targeted a vulnerable member of their own community".

"I would like to appeal to the witnesses in our town of Carrickfergus who have yet to come forward, to think of my brother Glenn and please do the right thing," she said.

"You most likely knew Glenn and you'll know he was just a decent, kind-hearted, big gentleman. 

"He did not deserve to have his life taken from him so violently."

Police described Glenn Quinn as a "defenceless man" whose murder had left an entire community in shock

Mr Quinn's body was discovered on the evening of 4 January 2020 but police believe he was attacked at some stage during 2 January or 3 January.

'Slow and painful death'

Det Insp Gina Quinn said the victim was "subjected to a shocking and brutal attack inside his own home, a place where he should have been safe and secure".

"After the cowardly and violent beating, Glenn, who was a defenceless man, was left to die a slow and painful death from serious injuries, which included multiple rib fractures."

His sister added: "I've seen first-hand Glenn's injuries and what I've seen will never leave me.

"What happened to Glenn cannot be allowed to ever happen again. Those responsible need to be punished."

Police cordoned off the murder scene in Ashleigh Park in January 2020

Mr Quinn's murder was the subject of a BBC Spotlight programme in July 2022.

At the time, Mr Quinn's brother Martin said a senior investigating officer had told the family that the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) had information that Glenn was to be attacked.

Martin Quinn said it was "beyond belief" that the PSNI failed to act on the intelligence it had received and they lodged a formal complaint with the Police Ombudsman.

Speaking on Thursday, Martin Quinn said he expects the ombudsman's report will be released shortly and it "will be a very difficult read for the PSNI".

However, he added that the family has faith and trust in the team currently investigating the murder.

'Speak up'

Ms Murphy said much has changed in Carrickfergus since her brother's murder and she hoped that could help the investigation.

She said that "friendships and relationships have ended, allegiances have been severed" and that "those who once held certain positions in our town no longer hold sway".

"Now is the time to speak up, think of my brother, think of your own family or think of how the £40,000 combined reward could change your life."

Witnesses can pass information about the murder anonymously to the charity Crimestoppers

Half of the reward money will come from the charity Crimestoppers, which originally offered £20,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Mr Quinn's killers.

This has now been topped up with an extra £20,000 from a private donor who wishes to remain anonymous, police said.

Martin Quinn said the family was "so, so grateful" to the donor and described their contribution as an indication of "the depth of feeling and outrage with the Carrick community" over the murder.

He acknowledged that some witnesses may feel too intimidated to speak out, but he hopes the reward will encourage them to share what they know.

"Nobody will come forward because nobody feels protected and safe as a witness in the Carrickfergus estate," he told the BBC's Good Morning Ulster programme.

"To come forward as a witness against members of that organisation is impossible and we completely understand that, so there has to be some sort of inducement."

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Det Insp Quinn said the victim was "well-known and well-liked by all, and his death has left, not only a family bereft, but an entire community in shock".

She said his family's heartache is "magnified by the fact that those responsible have not yet been brought to justice".

"There are people out there who know the circumstances and who know who's responsible," the police officer added.

"I understand that they may be reluctant or afraid to speak up, and I'm keen to stress that information can be passed to the charity Crimestoppers with complete anonymity."