Very few people will agree with the claim by convicted loyalist murderer Garfield Beattie that his decision to send a letter to the daughter of one of his victims in the name of the East Tyrone UVF was a `black joke'.
Beattie (64) served a life sentence for his part in the killing of two Catholics, including SDLP activist Denis Mullen, in the east Tyrone/west Armagh area in the 1970s.
In a striking interview with The Irish News on Saturday, he admitted that he had posted a recent letter to Mr Mullen's daughter Denise, now a Mid Ulster councillor, purporting to be from the UVF.
Beattie insisted that he had not been acting seriously, but accepted that his behaviour was `insensitive', and, after he was arrested, had asked police to apologise on his behalf.
He was subsequently released without charge, although he is to be reported to the Public Prosecution Service, but Ms Mullen's solicitor has called for his early release licence to be revoked by the secretary of state and referred the case to the Police Ombudsman.
There can be no doubt that Beattie's conduct was crass in the extreme, and, despite his declaration that he no longer regards himself as a loyalist and is ashamed of the UVF's killings, he could have no real complaint if he found himself back behind bars.
However, given his comments about paramilitary groups in the 1970s, he can still clarify his position as he develops his work as an artist who ironically specialises in portraying nationalist icons.
Beattie was centrally involved in violence at a stage when loyalists, republicans and on occasions the forces of the state were responsible for massive bloodshed.
He has agreed that the UVF targeted innocent and vulnerable Catholics for purely sectarian reasons, but denied the very existence of the group known as the Glenanne Gang, which is widely believed to have benefited from collusion with elements linked to the authorities of the day.
Beattie has said that, because of his views, he will not cooperate with the Glenanne investigation which is being organised by the former English police commander John Boutcher.
If Beattie was to change his mind, engage with Mr Boutcher’s colleagues and provide at least some insights into his 1970s role, he would be much better placed to argue that his early release licence should not be reviewed.
