Marie McCourt takes her petition to number 10 Downing Street

Granada
St Helens
Wigan
Thursday 4 February 2016 at 5:04pm

Helen McCourt was murdered 28 years ago Credit: ITV

Marie McCourt believes that killers who don't reveal where their victim's bodies are should never be freed and she's taken her petition to number 10 Downing Street.

It's 28 years since her daughter, Helen McCourt, was abducted and her killer, the man serving life in jail has never revealed where her body is.

Conor McGinn, MP for St Helens North, today accompanied Marie McCourt and her family to a meeting with the Victims Minister and then to Downing Street, where he helped deliver a petition to the Prime Minister calling on him to introduce Helen's Law, which has been signed by over 320,000 people.

Yesterday, the Parole Board recommended that Helen McCourt's murderer be transferred to an open prison. In response to that and today's events, the Prisons Minister has asked the Parole Board to review its guidelines in relation to the sentencing and release of convicted murderers who refuse to reveal the whereabouts of their victims remains.

Speaking outside No. 10 Downing Street, McGinn said:

“Marie made her case with characteristic decency and dignity. She is an extraordinary woman who despite enduring the most awful suffering is dedicated to helping others. The Victims Minister listened carefully and responded positively. > “The priority for me now is to ensure that the Secretary of State for Justice is fully informed of all the facts around Helen McCourt’s case before making the final decision about whether her murderer is to be transferred to an open prison. > “I also welcome the fact that the Prisons Minister has responded to the overwhelming public support for our campaign to introduce Helen’s Law, and has asked the parole board to review the guidelines around convicted murderers who refuse to reveal the location of their victims’ remains. > “I want to see immediate progress on this and I will be keeping the pressure on the Government so that victims and their families get the justice they deserve.”