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20/11/2017
Man To Serve At Least 13 Years For Laundrette Murder
The murderer of Marion Millican, Fred McClenaghan, has been sentenced to a minimum of 13 years in prison.
The Magherafelt man, aged 56, pleaded guilty to murdering the mother-of-four.
The PSNI described him as a very "callous and dangerous" man.
Detective Superintendent Jason Murphy, from PSNI's Serious Crime Branch, said: "He walked into the laundrette where Marion worked and murdered her in cold blood while she was on her lunch break. Before killing his ex-girlfriend he terrorised her and a colleague by threatening them with his shotgun. When Marion refused to go outside and speak to him he fired a shot into the floor to intimidate her.
"Marion's terrified colleague managed to escape the laundrette but sadly Marion died at the scene from gunshot wounds to her chest.
"Frederick McClenaghan inflicted further pain and suffering on the Millican family by subjecting them to a total of three trials after successfully appealing his unanimous murder conviction on two occasions. During the third trial in September this year - and after more than six years - he finally admitted his guilt.
"However, he has never given the Millican family the courtesy of an explanation as to why he killed Marion.
"Throughout 14 police interviews he maintained his right to silence and while this was his right, I believe he had a moral responsibility to explain his actions to Marion’s family.
"This is an extremely sad case, and first and foremost today our sympathies go to Marion’s children, husband, grandchildren, wider family circle and her friends, who continue to come to terms with her death. Frederick McClenaghan has rightfully been sentenced to life in prison, however Marion’s family have themselves been consigned to a life-long sentence as a result of his callous and cold blooded act.
"Detectives and prosecutors worked tirelessly to get justice for Marion's murder and today brings closure for the police service and the Public Prosecution Service. But the family will never get closure. The guilty plea and today's sentencing is the very least that they deserve."
(CD/MH)
The Magherafelt man, aged 56, pleaded guilty to murdering the mother-of-four.
The PSNI described him as a very "callous and dangerous" man.
Detective Superintendent Jason Murphy, from PSNI's Serious Crime Branch, said: "He walked into the laundrette where Marion worked and murdered her in cold blood while she was on her lunch break. Before killing his ex-girlfriend he terrorised her and a colleague by threatening them with his shotgun. When Marion refused to go outside and speak to him he fired a shot into the floor to intimidate her.
"Marion's terrified colleague managed to escape the laundrette but sadly Marion died at the scene from gunshot wounds to her chest.
"Frederick McClenaghan inflicted further pain and suffering on the Millican family by subjecting them to a total of three trials after successfully appealing his unanimous murder conviction on two occasions. During the third trial in September this year - and after more than six years - he finally admitted his guilt.
"However, he has never given the Millican family the courtesy of an explanation as to why he killed Marion.
"Throughout 14 police interviews he maintained his right to silence and while this was his right, I believe he had a moral responsibility to explain his actions to Marion’s family.
"This is an extremely sad case, and first and foremost today our sympathies go to Marion’s children, husband, grandchildren, wider family circle and her friends, who continue to come to terms with her death. Frederick McClenaghan has rightfully been sentenced to life in prison, however Marion’s family have themselves been consigned to a life-long sentence as a result of his callous and cold blooded act.
"Detectives and prosecutors worked tirelessly to get justice for Marion's murder and today brings closure for the police service and the Public Prosecution Service. But the family will never get closure. The guilty plea and today's sentencing is the very least that they deserve."
(CD/MH)
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