Draft:Murder of Bernadette Martin
| Submission declined on 10 September 2025 by Lijil (talk). This submission's references do not show that the subject qualifies for a Wikipedia article—that is, they do not show significant coverage (not just passing mentions) about the subject in published, reliable, secondary sources that are independent of the subject (see the guidelines on the notability of events). Before any resubmission, additional references meeting these criteria should be added (see technical help and learn about mistakes to avoid when addressing this issue). If no additional references exist, the subject is not suitable for Wikipedia.
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Comment: The sources about the actual murder are all from 1997, so there is no evidence that this particular murder had a lasting historical significance, which is a requirement for notability of events. There are more recent sources in the article but they don't relate directly to this murder. The article also includes a lot of detail that does not directly relate to the murder of Bernadette Martin, like other deaths or details about the brother of the killer. It seems to me that the real topic here is a series of events by the Loyalist Volunteer Force so it would make more sense to work on that existing article or potentially separate out articles on series of events there? Unless there are new sources specifically about this murder (which would suggest lasting historical signficance not just for the continued violence over time but for this specific event) I would recommend not continuing to develop this draft. Lijil (talk) 06:14, 10 September 2025 (UTC)
Bernadette Martin | |
|---|---|
| Born | Bernadette Mary Martin 1978 |
| Died | 15 July 1997 (aged 18) Belfast, County Antrim, Northern ireland |
| Cause of death | Gunshot wounds |
| Occupation | Factory worker |
| Partner | Gordon Green |
Bernadette Mary Martin (1978 – 15 July 1997) was a catholic teenager and factory worker who was murdered at her protestant boyfriend's house in Aghalee in July 1997, by Trevor McKeown a member of the Loyalist Volunteer Force.[1]
Background
[edit]Bernadette Martin was born in 1978 to a Irish catholic family in Lurgan. While Martin was working Avondale Food Processing Co. in Craigavon, she met a 19-year-old protestant worker Gordon Green, and the two would begin dating shortly after.[2][3]
Murder
[edit]On 14 July 1997 36-year-old Trevor McKeown a member of the Loyalist Volunteer Force and a neighbor and family friend of 19-year-old protestant Gordon Green's parents stayed at their home in Bangor. McKeown found out Gordon was dating a catholic girl 18-year-old Bernadette Martin and shortly before 4 a.m. on 15 July 1997, McKeown who was armed with a .22 Spanish Star pistol entered the home of Gordon Green in Aghalee through the unlocked back door. Bernadette along with Gordon's sister Wendy Green were spending the night at Gordon's house. McKeown walked over to Martin who was asleep in Green's arms and woke her up and then pointed a gun at her, she attempted to shield herself with her hand, and McKeown then shot her four times, the first shot went through her hand and into her head, and the following three shots hit her in the head as well.[1][4][5][6][7]
After McKeown left the home, Green reportedly cradled Martin who was miraculously still alive but unconscious. She was rushed to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast where she succumbed to her wounds about 12 hours later.[1]
Aftermath
[edit]Trevor McKeown was later arrested for Martin's murder, and on 9 June 1999 he was given a life sentence for the murder of Martin.[3][8] In 2000 his sentence was reduced to 22 years instead of life imprisonment.[9] It was found that Billy Wright had most likely helped arrange the murder of Martin.[1][10]
In September 2012 Trevor McKeown was set free after spending 15 years for Martin's murder.[11]
Murder of James Morgan
[edit]James Morgan (born 1981) was a 16-year-old catholic schoolboy who was hitchhiking in Newcastle, County Down, LVF member Norman Coopey would abduct Morgan. He was then tortured and then beaten to death with a hammer. His body was then doused in petrol and then set alight. Morgan's body was then dumped his body in a animal pit. Morgan's body was discovered shortly after and was identified a two days later.[12][13][14]
His death was quickly compared to Martin's murder, as they were both catholic youths murdered by the LVF only a few weeks apart from each other.[12]
Trevor McKeown
[edit]Trevor James Leslie McKeown (born 1960) was a member of the LVF. His the brothers of Malcolm McKeown and Clifford George McKeown were also members of the LVF.
His brother Clifford McKeown was responsible for the sectarian murder of 31-year-old catholic father of two, Michael John McGoldrick a taxi driver in Lurgan on 8 July 1996. McKeown would be charged with McGoldrick's murder.[15] Clifford would die in prison in February 2020.[16]
Malcolm McKeown along with James Carlise were also allegedly responsible for the February 2012 murder of 56-year-old Hugh McGeough and his 44-year-old wife Jacqueline "Jackie" McCartney who were drug dealers in Craigavon. However the charges were later dropped. Hugh McGeough was implicated for the murder of 19-year-old Peter McNally in late October 2001, in Craigavon.[17] In 2016 McKeown ordered a hit on republican Luke O'Neill who was imprisoned at HM Prison Maghaberry after he was found to be in possession of a mortar, however hit wasn't fulfilled. McKeown would be assassinated in August 2019.[18]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Mullin, John (1999-06-10). "Terrorist who shot sleeping girl 'will go free in a year'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-08-09.
- ^ "GRIEF BRIDGES SECTARIAN DIVIDE". The Washington Post. 1997-07-19. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2025-08-09.
- ^ a b "The Queen v Trevor James Leslie McKeown" (PDF). judiciaryni.uk. 2008. Retrieved 2025-08-09.
- ^ "Sectarian murderer curses judge". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. 1999-06-09. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2025-08-09.
- ^ "Loyalists kill Catholic woman | An Phoblacht". www.anphoblacht.com. Retrieved 2025-08-09.
- ^ Sreeter, Michael (1997-07-17). "Ulster grieves for teenager shot as she slept". independent.co.uk. Retrieved 2025-08-09.
- ^ "Aghalee Journal; The Story of Bernadette: Ulster's Ultimate Victim? (Published 1997)". 1997-10-16. Retrieved 2025-08-09.
- ^ "BBC News | UK | Sectarian murderer jailed for life". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2025-08-09.
- ^ "Bernadette killer free after 15 years". NorthernIrelandWorld. 2012-09-23. Retrieved 2025-08-09.
- ^ "I'd rather die in jail than confess to killing teen". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. 2008-07-19. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2025-08-09.
- ^ "Bernadette killer free after 15 years". NorthernIrelandWorld. 2012-09-23. Retrieved 2025-08-09.
- ^ a b "Schoolboy was young victim of old hatreds". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2025-08-09.
- ^ "Philomena Morgan » Wave Trauma". Wave Trauma. Retrieved 2025-08-09.
- ^ Mullin, John (2000-07-29). "Prisoner releases: Some smiled, others covered their heads". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-08-09.
- ^ "Killer may have jail term cut". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. 2003-04-09. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2025-08-09.
- ^ Jordan, Hugh (2025-08-10). "Loyalist psychopath Clifford McKeown narrowly escaped being murdered in Maze Prison". SundayWorld.com. Retrieved 2025-08-09.
- ^ McDonald, Henry (2011-03-08). "Police investigate double murder in Northern Ireland". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-08-09.
- ^ "Maghaberry prisoner targeted by murder plot". republican-news.org. Retrieved 2025-08-09.