A mother’s heartfelt plea beckons anyone with relevant details to assist her family in their pursuit of tranquillity, following the murder of her son, Gavin Brett, 23 years earlier. This young life was brutally taken away on the evening of July 29th, 2001, by the roadside opposite Hollybrook Road in Glengormley, Co Antrim. Gavin was a mere 18 years old at the time, his brother Philip Brett is now an MLA for Belfast North. Alongside his friends during the incident, one iwas maimed.
Distressingly, no conviction has followed his demise. Gavin’s mother, Phyllis, made a nationwide call to those who might have any clue about his killer, seeking their cooperation in aiding the police and offering her family a chance at peace.
The Legacy Investigation Branch’s Detective Chief Inspector Byrne described the grim event. While spending a jovial evening with his pals, a vehicle approached them from Upper Hightown Road’s direction. As the automobile went by, multiple shots were aimed at the group before it rapidly fled towards Glengormley. Gavin was fatally wounded at the scene, despite immediate medical attention, having been shot twice. Another 18-year-old was attended to for an ankle gunshot wound at the hospital.
Continuing, Mr Byrne stated that two assailants played a part in the horrific slaying. Before the attack, they spotted a Vauxhall car behaving erratically near Sandyknowes Roundabout. The day after the incident, a dark blue Vauxhall Nova saloon was discovered incinerated behind the shops at Ballyearl Drive, New Mossley, believed to be related to the case. Several arrests have been made over the years, but without a resulting conviction.
A terrible and monstrous assault deprived this young man of a budding life full of possibilities. Tragically, his father passed away without witnessing his son’s attackers face justice.
The detective asserts that irrespective of the duration since Gavin’s tragic demise, it remains appropriate for individuals with information to come forward. He presents a renewed appeal for anyone who may have been around Hollybrook Road or the neighbouring streets prior to or following the murder. If anyone witnessed the culprits, police request that they speak up. For anyone possessing relevant information, they can get in touch with the authorities by dialling 101, completing the non-emergency report form on the PSNI web portal, or sending anonymous details to Crimestoppers.