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| Reward offered in murder appeal | Reward offered in murder appeal |
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| A County Down pensioner has offered her £20,000 life savings in an attempt to catch the men responsible for murdering her son. | A County Down pensioner has offered her £20,000 life savings in an attempt to catch the men responsible for murdering her son. |
| Mark Christie, 36, was attacked with a machete three years ago in Bangor by a gang of men believed to be linked to the UDA. | Mark Christie, 36, was attacked with a machete three years ago in Bangor by a gang of men believed to be linked to the UDA. |
| Rosalie Christie said her son, who was an alleged drug dealer, did not deserve to die. | Rosalie Christie said her son, who was an alleged drug dealer, did not deserve to die. |
| Mrs Christie said she wanted to secure justice for her family. | Mrs Christie said she wanted to secure justice for her family. |
| "Mark died a horrible death and those of us left behind have been unable to get justice for him or move on with our lives," she said. | "Mark died a horrible death and those of us left behind have been unable to get justice for him or move on with our lives," she said. |
| Mrs Christie's husband died just months before her son's murder and she said the lives of her entire family, including her son's two children, had been devastated by his killing. | Mrs Christie's husband died just months before her son's murder and she said the lives of her entire family, including her son's two children, had been devastated by his killing. |
| "It is my life savings, it would have been my husband's money as well as mine," she said. | |
| "It is worth it though, because he was my son it is worth every penny. | |
| "It is worth it to me to see justice, that is why I am doing it." | |
| Police said Mark Christie was in a house at Millisle Gardens in Bangor when he was confronted by a number of men who chased him into Owenroe Drive in the Kilcooley estate at about 2330 BST on 22 August 2006. | Police said Mark Christie was in a house at Millisle Gardens in Bangor when he was confronted by a number of men who chased him into Owenroe Drive in the Kilcooley estate at about 2330 BST on 22 August 2006. |
| Machete | Machete |
| The gang attacked him with a number of weapons, believed to have included a machete. | The gang attacked him with a number of weapons, believed to have included a machete. |
| After the killing, a report on paramilitary activity by the Independent Monitoring Commission said the murder had been carried out by people linked to the UDA, but did not appear to have been sanctioned by the organisation. | After the killing, a report on paramilitary activity by the Independent Monitoring Commission said the murder had been carried out by people linked to the UDA, but did not appear to have been sanctioned by the organisation. |
| She said she was unaware of her son's alleged links to the drugs trade and was shocked when it was raised in media reports after his murder. | She said she was unaware of her son's alleged links to the drugs trade and was shocked when it was raised in media reports after his murder. |
| "I have heard all the stories about Mark and what he was supposed to be involved in," she said. | "I have heard all the stories about Mark and what he was supposed to be involved in," she said. |
| "When all is said and done, Mark was my son. No-one deserves to die the way he did and the people who did this to him deserve to be put away." | "When all is said and done, Mark was my son. No-one deserves to die the way he did and the people who did this to him deserve to be put away." |
| Since the murder police have carried out 68 searches and have arrested nine people, but no-one has been charged in connection with the killing. | Since the murder police have carried out 68 searches and have arrested nine people, but no-one has been charged in connection with the killing. |
| Detective Chief Inspector Glenn Wright said: "This is an unusual step and Mrs Christie is taking a very brave stand. | Detective Chief Inspector Glenn Wright said: "This is an unusual step and Mrs Christie is taking a very brave stand. |
| "The individuals who attacked Mark, did so to satisfy their own selfish agenda and nothing else. Nothing could justify this cold-blooded and vicious killing. | "The individuals who attacked Mark, did so to satisfy their own selfish agenda and nothing else. Nothing could justify this cold-blooded and vicious killing. |
| "The community would be a much safer place if those responsible were behind bars." | "The community would be a much safer place if those responsible were behind bars." |