Murder victim's daughter back in NI

Published Monday, 22 August 2011
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The teenage daughter of one of the two women murdered while on holiday in Turkey has arrived back in Northern Ireland.

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Fifteen-year-old Shannon Graham landed in Belfast on a flight from London Heathrow with her father Raymond McGuinness and brother David on Monday evening.

Her mother Marion Graham and best friend Cathy Dinsmore, both in their 50s, were stabbed to death in Izmir - about 75 miles away from popular tourist resort of Kusadasi, where they had been staying.

The bodies of the two women, from the Newry area, were found in woods near the city on Friday.

As more details continue to emerge about the double murder, it is now thought both women were stabbed up to 15 times.

Shannon's boyfriend appeared in court over the murders on Friday night, but there seems to be confusion surrounding his age.

There's a lot of speculation within the Turkish media surrounding the age of the suspect - it's thought he may be in his 20s and is not actually 17 as first thought.

UTV’s Marc Mallett, in Turkey


"That would have quite a big impact on the trial here in Turkey, because he would face trial in an adult court rather than a youth court - therefore any sentence given would be considerably more," Marc Mallett said.

No formal charges have been brought against him, but it is believed he has already confessed to the murders.

Members of the Dinsmore family remain in Turkey while preparations continue to bring the bodies of the two women to Northern Ireland.

A spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin said repatriation is not expected until Wednesday at the earliest.

Prayers were said over the weekend in Northern Ireland and Turkey for the two women and their families.

© UTV News
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3 Comments
Anne in Belfast wrote (275 days ago):
This young girl should be allowed to grieve in private and not be hounded by the media. The shock of what she has experienced this past week would be hard for an adult to handle never mind someone her age.
deirdre in newry wrote (276 days ago):
I am here in America when i heard the news of the double murders.I am still in shock i have known Marion for many years along with her other 2 sisters and her late parents.Her sister Una and i were great friends before she left Newry many years ago to live in Southport where sadly she died.Thankfuly i will be home in time to pay my respects to her sister Kathleen.
lorna in limavady wrote (276 days ago):
I feel sympathy for this young girl. Noome knows what she is going through. The thought of what that man who was supposed to love her has put her through. to be looking for her mum and then discover she was murdered by him. I hope she will find comfort from the people arround her now she will come home. There is a madness in the world that makes people kill for their own selfish wills.
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