Families plea to Doug Beattie to de-select drunk driver

The families of two young Derry men killed by drunk drivers have expressed their anger at the Ulster Unionist Party’s selection of Derek Hussey as a candidate in the upcoming Local Government Elections.

Martin Gallagher Jr (25) was killed at Hallowe’en 2009 as he crossed the Racecourse Road in the city.

Robert Bradley Jr (20) was killed on December 16, 2000 as he walked home from his work in the Students’ Union of Nottingham Trent University.

Martin Gallagher Jr (25) and Robert Bradley Jr (20) who were killed by drunk drivers.

Derek Hussey, who represents the Derg District Electoral Area on Derry City and Strabane District Council has three convictions for drink driving. The most recent was in March 2016 and followed earlier convictions in 2004 and 2011. 

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 July 2019, following a complaint to the Local Government Commissioner of Standards, Derek Hussey was disqualified from Derry City and Strabane District Council for 15 months. 

The Gallagher and Bradley families said they had decided to speak to Derry News because they had been unable to secure a meeting with UUP leader Doug Beattie.

Bereaved parents: Martin and Elizabeth Gallagher, the parents of Martin Gallagher Jr, and Bobby Bradley, the father of Robert Bradley Jr. 

They wanted to discuss Derek Hussey’s selection with Mr Beattie and the message they felt it sent to the electorate that drink driving was not a serious offence. 

Clearly emotional, Martin Gallagher Sr said: “We got this man suspended the last time. He has been three times convicted of drunk driving but he has never received a custodial sentence.

“Then the party suspended him.

“Now the party has taken him back again to stand in the upcoming elections.

“We think the UUP has no policy on drunk driving. It is hurtful to us and to the Bradley family to see a man sitting on our Council, Derry City and Strabane District Council who has been convicted three times for drunk driving.

“We got a knock on the door at 5 o’clock in the morning to say your son has been murdered by a drunk driver, who drove on and went to a party. The police didn’t get him until about three or four hours later. 

“As a family, we have never gotten over Martin’s death. You just have to live with it but there is something missing all the time,” said Martin.

Mr Gallagher said Doug Beattie would need to be in the same position as his family to know how the selection of a drunk driver as an election candidate hurts bereaved families.

“You never know until it happens to yourself,” said Martin. “It just destroys your whole family. Myself, my wife, Elizabeth and Martin’s sisters, Michelle and Anne, and his brother, Richard and Ryan have never recovered.

“We would like to have a meeting with Mr Beattie. We would just like to say that we don’t understand his policy when a man that has been convicted three times for drunk driving can stand in the elections. 

“I don’t think a person who has been convicted of drunk driving has the character to be a councillor. It is setting a bad example, not only for Doug Beattie but for his party and for young people. 

“I would plead with Doug Beattie to reconsider Derek Hussey’s selection because he is sitting on our Council. Everytime we see him in the papers or on TV it hurts you.

“It brings back up the trauma of what happened to Martin (Jr),” said the grieving father.

Agreeing with Martin Sr, Bobby Bradley Sr described losing his son, Robert, almost 20 years ago.

"Robert was at Nottingham Trent university in England and was working in the Students’ Union. The night before he was due to come home for Christmas, he was walking home with his friends. He was crossing the road and a drunk driver came down the road, driving at 60 miles an hour in a 30 mile an hour zone.

“He was five times over the drink driving limit and he came down a one-way street the wrong way. At the time they were doing roadworks and it was made one-way because they were putting trams in. 

“Robert was killed instantly and the girl along with him Alexandra Veeder (21) was killed as well.

“Robert was thrown into the air and was impaled on railings and Alexandra was thrown onto the road. She died three or four hours later but Robert was killed instantly. He was hit first.

“It was a hard pill to swallow and since then my daughter, Aileen, and I got involved in the Foyle Road Safety organisation.

“We campaigned heavily to get the message out about drunk driving because nobody has any idea about the damage it does to families until you experience it,” said Bobby, “and you wouldn’t wish it on your worst enemy.”

Bobby added: “It just destroys your family. I lost my wife, Anne, effectively because when Robert died, she just gave up the will to live. She never goes out of the house. I have looked after her for the past 22 years. 

“It has affected her mental health big time. Anne never goes out the door. Robert’s death just destroyed her life and the rest of the family too, Thomas, Catherine, Aileen and Gemma. It affected the girls’ health.”

Robert subsequently got involved with the ‘Life After’ group which helps families bereaved by drunk drivers.

He added: “Derek Hussey is a three-time convicted drunk driver. He has caused accidents, hit and run, left the scene, yet he has never received a custodial sentence. 

“This is nothing personal to do with the UUP or Doug Beattie. It is not political. It is totally about getting out the message about drunk driving. When Derek Hussey was reinstated to Derry City and Strabane District Council, he told the press that he was meeting the families. That never happened. He never spoke to us or Martin. He actually avoided us at a meeting in the Guildhall.

“It is setting a bad example to have someone like Derek Hussey sitting on Derry City and Strabane District Council, a convicted drink driver. What message is that sending out to schools and young people? 

“His party should never have put him forward. I am shocked the UUP has ignored this, and turned a blind eye to it. He was caught three times, how many times did he drink and drive?” said Bobby Bradley Sr.

Derry News contacted Doug Beattie for a comment on whether he would meet the Gallagher and Bradley families to discuss their concerns regarding the UUP’s selection of Derek Hussey. At the time of going to press, no comment had been received.