Mother in fundraising bid to keep killer in jail

THE mother of murder victim Helen McCourt has launched a crowdfunding appeal to potentially seek a judicial review of the Parole Board’s decision to release her daughter’s killer.

Marie McCourt said she was “in shock” when she learned of Thursday’s ruling on Ian Simms, who was convicted by a jury three decades ago on overwhelming DNA evidence of abduction and murder.

The pub landlord has always maintained his innocence over the death of the 22-year-old insurance clerk, who vanished on her way home from work in Liverpool in 1988 and whose body has never been found.

Ms McCourt, from Billinge, Merseyside, has fought to keep killers behind bars until they lead police to the victim’s body, but her campaign – dubbed Helen’s Law – failed to be ratified before Parliament was dissolved.

She is now considering challenging the Parole Board’s decision in the High Court but said such action “could be expensive” and she needs help after she said she had “never received a penny of legal aid”.

In a statement issued through fundraising website GoFundMe, Ms McCourt said: “I have been staggered and overwhelmed at the outpouring of support I have received since the Parole Board’s decision to release my daughter’s killer was announced.

“My legal team is now considering what avenues are open to me to stop the release; one such option is to launch a judicial review of the decision in the High Court. Taking action could be expensive – which is why I am launching a crowdfunding appeal.”

The final decision on when Simms is released will be made by the Prison Service, although there will now be a three-week period during which either the Justice Secretary or even the killer himself can appeal.