Dead teen’s mother asks Facebook to unlock page

The mother of schoolgirl Lucy Mchugh has urged Facebook to give police access to an account belonging to the man suspected of murdering the 13-year-old.

Stacey White said detectives could uncover information vital to their investigation if they were allowed to read messages sent and received by Stephen Nicholson before the teenager’s death.

The 24-year-old care worker was jailed for 14 months on Friday over his refusal to hand over the password to his account.

Investigators face having to take lengthy legal action in the US to get access, with the delay branded “deeply disturbing” by the head of thecommonshomeaffairs committee.

Ms White has said unlocking the account would “certainly give police an idea of what was being said between Lucy and Stephen”.