Sad Return Of Turkish Murder Victims' Families

The family of Turkish murder victim Marion Graham flew back to Belfast yesterday as preparations continue to bring home her body and that of her friend Kathy Dinsmore.

The victim's daughter, Shannon Graham, 15, whose Turkish boyfriend, Recep Cetin, is suspected of stabbing the 53-year-old friends in a wooded park near Izmir last Thursday, arrived back at Belfast International Airport yesterday evening, accompanied by her father, Raymond McGuinness.

The nephew and niece of Ms Dinsmore, Robert and Ruby, also flew to Turkey to assist with the repatriation of the bodies.

The two families and their friends are now awaiting the return of the remains of Ms Graham and Ms Dinsmore, whose bodies were yesterday released from the mortuary in Izmir.

The women lived in Newry, but had Irish passports with their families being assisted by officials from the Irish Embassy in Turkey.

Now, it is hoped that the funerals of the two women can take place later this week, possibly on Friday

Meanwhile, Mr Cetin, the main suspect, is said to have confessed to the murders to Turkish police, who are working on the theory that he killed the women because Marion Graham would not permit him to marry her daughter.

There are doubts about his age however, given as 17, but suspected to be much more - possibly as old as 21-years-of-age.

(BMcC/GK)