Foster throws weight behind campaign for Charlotte’s Law
FIRST Minister Arlene Foster has backed a call for a new law that would prevent convicted murderers being eligible for parole until they reveal the location of their victim’s body.
The family of murdered Co Tyrone woman Charlotte Murray have been campaigning for the law to be named in her memory.
Ms Murray (34) was killed between October 31 and November 1, 2012. Her body has never been found despite searches.
Last October, Johnny Miller, a 49-year-old from Dungannon, was found guilty of her murder.
Ms Murray’s family and the family of Co Down woman Lisa Dorrian, who was killed in 2005, met with Ms Foster yesterday.
The remains of Ms Dorrian have also never been found despite significant searches.
Her family is backing the Murray family’s campaign, although Ms Dorrian’s killers have yet to be brought to justice.
Charlotte’s sister Sinead Corrigan said they did not want to see Miller released from jail until her remains were found.
“We are in the situation where we have justice for Charlotte. Her killer received a 16-year sentence, but he has yet to tell us where he hid Charlotte’s body,” she added.
“Our campaign focuses on ensuring he will not be released from prison until he tells us where Charlotte is.”
Ms Foster said she support
ed their call. “It was a privilege to meet with the family of Lisa Dorrian and Charlotte Murray,” the DUP leader added.
“Both of these families have suffered a huge loss in that their daughters or sisters have been murdered and their bodies have not been found. They came along today to speak to me to ask me to be a proponent for what they want to see happening.
“That is that if a perpetrator is jailed for murder and they don’t allow the families to know where their loved one is buried, that they are not considered for parole.
“I think that is just, given that these families are going through a horrendous time by not having the opportunity to say goodbye and grieve properly.
“I look forward to speaking to the Justice Minister about these issues and I look forward to working with the families as we work through this terrible time.
“I hope that we can find them some closure. I also hope we can bring the person who is responsible for Lisa’s death to justice.”