WATCH: Retired teacher's murderer handed 16-year minimum jail term

by Q Radio News

The heartbroken family of retired schoolteacher Robert Flowerday have spoken of their devastation at his brutal murder and said their lives will "never be the same again."

Speaking outside Belfast Crown Court - where their brother's murderer Michael Owens, from Lisburn Road in Glenavy, was handed a minimum jail term of 16 years and six months - his siblings spoke of their loss and suffering.

Mr Flowerday's brother Alan and sister Pat attended court with other relatives, with Pat revealing their brother Eddie was too ill to attend.

She said: "No doubt all these happenings have had an adverse impact on his health and certainly on his recovery.

"For us, no sentence could ever make up for the devastation that he had done to our family."

(Murder victim Robert Flowerday)

Alan Flowerday said: "The family have been devastated by Robert's murder and our hearts ripped apart. Today, after almost two years, we hear the Judge committing this brutal murderer to a life imprisonment with a tariff of 16 and a half years.

"This is not justice for taking our brother's life so cruelty. Life should mean life.

"Here we are, the victims of our brother's murder, suffering the loss, feeling the agony, the torture of which Robert was subjected to and then having to foot the bill as taxpayers for Legal Aid and his (Owens) accommodation in Maghaberry prison.

"Not only have we lost a brother and uncle, but the community of Crumlin has lost someone they loved - and so many children have lost out on his amazing teaching skills.

"He helped anyone, and did so on a regular basis, crossing communities and bringing people together. No job was too much for him.

"Robert's house - which was once the happy, warm, welcoming family home - is now a cold, desolate shell that presents constant reminder of the heinous crime, the tragedy, the cruelty and the torture and pain."

🎥 Michael Gerard Owens of the Lisburn Road in Glenavy has been sentenced to a minimum of 16 years and six months for the murder of Robert Flowerday in January 2018. Speaking outside court, Robert’s sister Pat and brother Alan said no sentence could ever make up for the murder. pic.twitter.com/IEiL7dk6JS

— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) December 20, 2019

Alan Flowerday thanked those who came forward with information about his brother's murder, and also thanked the PSNI and PPS.

Revealing their lives "will never be the same", Mr Flowerday added: "It has drained us each of the zest for life. The stress has taken its toll on us and has contributed and exacerbated the health of our two brothers. Hopefully after today we can begin our journey back to some sort of normailty."

Also speaking outside court was Detective Inspector Michelle Griffin, who paid tribute to the Flowerday family for their "dignity and patience throughout this investigation."

She said: "I know today’s sentencing will not take away their loss or pain but I hope it will allow them to start to grieve properly."

Welcoming Owens conviction, DI Griffins continued: "The murder of 64 year old retired schoolteacher Robert Flowerday was brutal and totally senseless and today his killer has received a life prison sentence with a minimum of 16 years 6 months before he can apply for parole.

"Robert was a man of faith who dedicated his life to educating children of both primary and secondary school age.

"On the day of his murder on Sunday 28th January 2018 he attended church in the morning and had tutored a child in the afternoon. It was while he was at home in Crumlin getting ready to go to the home of another student for a tutoring session that Michael Owens broke into the one place Robert should have felt safe and carried out  the savage killing.

"Robert was beaten viciously with a hammer , poker and an axe over a prolonged period and sadly he died from his injuries. Mr Owens not only subjected Robert to a horrendous death, he then tried to start a fire to hide his horrific crime. A crime he carried out solely for the purpose of stealing money to feed his drugs and alcohol habit.

"Mr Owens then disposed of his outer clothes to get rid of evidence but thanks to the hard work of my detectives we were able to uncover DNA on his belt and a plastic bag he used as a mask as he carried out his ruthless attack.

"I would like to thank the Crumlin community for their help in this investigation. In particular the family that Robert was due to visit that evening who raised the alarm with police that he had not arrived for their child’s tutoring session.

"I’d like to pay tribute to the member of the public who on hearing our appeal phoned police to name Michael Owens as the suspect. This demonstrates the powerful results that can be achieved when communities and police work together."

🎥 Det Inspt. Michelle Griffin describes the murder of 64-year-old retired teacher Robert Flowerday as “brutal and senseless”. She was joined by Robert’s family outside court after Michael Gerard Owens of the Lisburn Road in Glenavy was sentenced to a minimum of 16 and 1/2 years. pic.twitter.com/jArKGZ7vMY

— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) December 20, 2019

The sentence was also welcomed by senior public prosecutor Kirsten McKevitt from the PPS, who said: "The PPS Serious Crime Unit worked closely with the PSNI to build the strongest possible case against Michael Owens.

“Together we prepared a robust prosecution case which resulted in a guilty plea to the murder of Robert Flowerday.

“The circumstances of this case are particularly distressing – this was a brutal and shocking murder of a defenceless elderly man in his own home.

“Mr Flowerday was a loving brother, uncle and friend. He was also a retired teacher and a much respected tutor who helped many children through their exams. He is sorely missed by his family, friends and the wider community.

“This has been a deeply painful experience for Mr Flowerday’s family, and we thank them for the positive and dignified way they engaged with the PPS throughout.”