The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
More than £100k given to hunt for missing Nora, 15
● Family thank searchers in the jungle
More than £100,000 has been donated to help the family of missing teenager Nora Quoirin as the search for the 15-year-old continues.
More than 300 search and rescue personnel have been involved in the hunt for Nora, who disappeared from a Malaysian jungle resort on Sunday August 4.
The teenager’s aunt set up an online fundraising page in the aftermath of her disappearance, which has so far collected more than £89,000.
A second campaign created by Nora’s uncle to collect money in euros now totals more than 14,000 euros (£13,000).
A total of 348 personnel were yesterday deployed
in the search operation, according to Malaysia’s Malay Mail newspaper.
Malaysian police set up a hotline over the weekend, while voluntary hikers also joined the search for Nora, who was born with the brain defect holoprosencephaly and has special needs.
Her parents, Meabh and Sebastien Quoirin, a French-Irish couple who have lived in London for 20 years, thanked those involved in looking for her.
“You have given up your time especially at a special festival time,” said Ms Quoirin, referring to Hari Raya Haji, the Islamic “festival of sacrifice” celebrations.
In a video broadcast on local media, she added: “We want to say thank you to each and every one of you. We know you’re searching night and day for Nora.
“We see you working so hard and also praying with us and being with us.”
The family have said they remain hopeful after police leading the investigation refused to rule out a “criminal element”.
The National Crime Agency (NCA) and the Metropolitan Police are supporting the Malaysian police.
A spokeswoman for the NCA said: “The National Crime Agency, the Met Police and the Irish police are working together to help and support the Malaysian authorities relating to Nora Quoirin’s disappearance.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Lucie Blackman Trust intelligence on ops@lbtrust.org or 0800 098 8485.
August 5: A British charity said that Malaysian police were treating Nora’s disappearance as a potential abduction, but officers denied there was any foul play involved. The Lucie Blackman Trust, a charity supporting missing people abroad, said police believed the teenager could have been taken.
August 6: A statement released on Tuesday said: “Nora’s family believe she has been abducted. “We are especially worried because Nora has learning and developmental disabilities, and is not other 15-year-olds.” like
August 7: Police said they were analysing unidentified fingerprints found in the family’s hotel suite.
August 9: Police investigated whether footprints found in the forest where Nora went missing belonged to the missing teen. Nora’s family also revealed more about her: “Nora is not like other teenagers. She is not independent and does not go anywhere alone.”