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Tributes paid to mother of murdered schoolgirl Megan McAlorum

Margaret McAlorum pictured in 2008 after her daughter Megan's killer was transferred to an English prison.
Margaret McAlorum pictured in 2008 after her daughter Megan's killer was transferred to an English prison. Margaret McAlorum pictured in 2008 after her daughter Megan's killer was transferred to an English prison.

Tributes have been paid to Margaret McAlorum, the campaigning mother of murdered schoolgirl Megan, who died in hospital on Tuesday.

The 63-year-old mother-of-seven was waiting for a liver transplant for a rare condition when she passed away.

Her daughter Lynne said last night that the family has been heartened by the support shown to them by the local community and said her mother was "the rock of the family".

"Mummy had developed PBC, it's a really rare condition, Megan had it as well but we didn't know that until the autopsy after she died.

"She was to get a transplant but fell into a coma on Friday, she did come around a few times and we were all there with her when she died at 2.14am on Tuesday.

"My daddy is just devasted, they were so close, we all are, we such a close knit family and that was all down to mummy, she was the rock of the family.

"Even after Megan's death when we were all struggling in our own way she was always there to pull us back together.

"She was so brave, she did so many interviews because she wanted people to know the truth even though her own heart was breaking.

"Our home hasn't stopped with people calling to pay their respects, everyone who met or knew her loved her.

"We are grateful to have had her as our mother and that we are as close as we are will be her legacy, she brought us together, she was brave and loving and we are just devasted that she's gone".

Megan McAlorum was just 16-year-old when she was killed in an isolated area of west Belfast in April 2004.

Thomas Purcell, a member of the Traveller community, originally denied murdering the popular schoolgirl, but at the last minute changed his plea to guilty.

Margaret McAlorum campaigned tirelessly for justice for her daughter. I2008 the Irish News reported that Purcell had been transferred to an English jail to serve out his sentence without the knowledge of his young victim's family.

The family complained to the prison service and the intervention lead to a change in policy in how the prison system deals with victims.

A scheme was set up to allows victim's families sign up to be informed of the release date or any transfer by convicted killers.

The campaigning mother said at the time she hoped this would ensure other families were treated in a more sensitive manner by the prison system.

Mrs McAlorum is survived by her husband Frankie, and children Frankie, Richard, Lynne, Paula, Stephen, Kirsty.

She is to be buried alongside her daughter Megan in the City Cemetery following Requiem Mass in St Oliver Plunkett Church at 10am on Friday.