MURDER VICTIM’S SISTER TELLS OF LIVING HELL
Mum and daughter launch fresh bid to find her remains DO THESE EVENTS JOG YOUR MEMORY?
THE sister of murdered Suzanne Pilley has told for the first time of the “unbearable” pain of not knowing the location of her final resting place.
Suzanne’s body has still not been found nearly eight years after she went missing on her way to work in Edinburgh.
Her lover David Gilroy, 55, was convicted of her murder but has never disclosed where he hid her remains.
Now Suzanne’s older sister Gail has joined with their mother Sylvia to launch a fresh appeal for information to help find her.
The pair were interviewed for a video posted today on Police Scotland’s Facebook page, just days after what would have been Suzanne’s 46th birthday.
It comes ahead of a TV documentary on the case to be shown on Sunday fronted by Scots actor Robbie Coltrane.
Tearful Gail said: “Every time she’s mentioned, you struggle with the fact she’s not been found.
“It’s hard to think about her because we don’t know where she is and the first thought that comes up when she’s mentioned is just, ‘Where are you?’
“It’s extremely difficult to not know where she is and to not have laid her to rest. She wasn’t treated with any dignity in her death. She was discarded and we just do not know where she is.
“That is sometimes unbearable but we have to move forward and I’d love to be able to just give her that funeral, that dignity that every person deserves.”
Sylvia said: “I feel, and my husband feels, it’s as if she didn’t matter and she’s gone and we can’t do anything about it.
“So we have to rely on the public if they’re in that area, maybe dog walkers, and we’ve been fortunate with the forestry workers who’ve been very good.
“Any place that looks as if it’s been disturbed, they notify the police and we’re very grateful because we POLICE issued a reminder of some of the big events from May 5, 2010, when Suzanne Pilley disappeared, in a bid to jog people’s memories. That night, Motherwell and Hibs drew 6-6 at Fir Park. Iron Man 2 was the new blockbuster film, while the first series of Luther was on BBC1. The general election was held the following day, with the Tory-Liberal Democrat coalition being formed. hope that one day she will be found.”
Suzanne, 38, went missing on her way to work in Thistle Street in Edinburgh’s city centre on May 4, 2010.
Married Gilroy and Suzanne had a “turbulent” relationship which she tried to end just before her disappearance.
The murder trial heard how Gilroy sneaked Suzanne’s body out of the office where he worked after strangling her.
Police believe Gilroy transported the body in the boot of his car to a secret grave in Argyll the next day, before driving back to the capital.
There are gaps of several hours in both legs of his journey between Lochgilphead and Inveraray, when officers believe he hid her body. Police have also issued an animated map of the routes Gilroy drove on the day he dumped Suzanne’s body.
Detective Superintendent Stuart Houston, who is leading the inquiry, said: “Suzanne’s family have been dignified and composed throughout their ordeal.
“I cannot begin to comprehend how they must feel every day, not knowing where their daughter and sister is.
“Searches have been carried out in Argyll but have sadly turned up nothing.
“While David Gilroy continues to maintain he’s innocent, the only avenue left open is a new piece of information from a member of the public. The gaps in Gilroy’s journey, and the foliage and debris on his car tell us he went off road near the Rest and Be Thankful.
“So anyone who was in that area on May 5, 2010, could have seen or heard something that might be the missing link in our investigation. Equally, I appeal to anyone in the Argyll forest who may notice anything unusual.” ●Robbie Coltrane’s Critical Evidence series is on the Crime + Investigation Channel at 10pm on Sunday. ●Anyone with information should contact police on 101 quoting Operation Mica, email SCDMITEdinburgh@ scotland.pnn.police.uk, or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.