VITAL clues may have been missed during the 10-day search for 15-year-old Nóra Quoirin, it has been claimed.
The body of the teenager, who had learning difficulties, was found last week 1.6 miles from the remote holiday resort where the family had been staying in Malaysia.
Her parents - Belfast-born Meabh and French-born Sebastien - along with two younger children are understood to have returned home to England on Saturday with their daughter’s body.
The Mail on Sunday reported that police in Malaysia said searchers included people "who were inexperienced and got tired quickly in the hot and humid conditions and didn’t always walk at arm’s length from each other".
The officer, who did not want to be named, added: "We can’t blame them because it was the first time for many of these searchers working for so many hours in these conditions and water and food supplies were limited. Overall, I think they did a good job despite incredibly arduous conditions."
Another senior officer said the area where Nora was found near a stream was still being investigated by forensic officers to see if there were any signs she had been abducted or assaulted before her death.
"We have found no evidence to support a criminal element so far and we are continuing to examine the area where she was found for clues. Locals are also being interviewed.
Read More
- Prayers offered as body of Nora Quoirin found in Malaysian jungle
- Tragic end of search marks beginning of every parent's worst nightmare
"The circumstances surrounding her death remain a complete mystery. Nora was barefoot and dressed only in her underwear when she disappeared from an open hall window of her holiday bungalow on the first night of the family’s holiday.
"Sniffer dogs only picked up her trail about 100 metres from the lodge, and how a child with special needs could have walked nearly two miles into dense forest and through a steep ravine is mystifying.
"Everyone is very upset and we have agonised over how she ended up in a waterfall area that had been combed by search teams in the first seven days."
Early on Saturday the family issued a statement asking the media to only rely on comments issued on their behalf by the Lucie Blackman Trust (LBT) charity.
The statement said: "The family of Nóra Quoirin would like to clarify several comments that have been attributed to the family or to people claiming to act on behalf of the family.
"They wish it to be made absolutely clear that the only comments and statements relating to the disappearance, death, investigation and any other matters that are actually from the family are those released via Matthew Searle of the Lucie Blackman Trust."
It added: "Any other comments and views are those of the speaker and do not necessarily reflect the views of the immediate family or an accurate portrayal of the facts."
The statement was issued following reports suggesting Nora's parents were considering asking for a second post mortem to be sure pathologists had not missed any evidence.
Malaysian police said following the first post mortem that Nóra starved after her disappearance and there was no evidence of abduction or kidnapping "for the time being".
The family said they will be bringing Nóra's body home "where she will finally be laid to rest, close to her loving families in France and Ireland".
Nora was baptised in St Brigid's Church in south Belfast in August 2004, where her grandparents are parishioners.
