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26/04/2006
Mother believes murderer should receive 'life sentence'
The mother of murdered west Belfast teenager Megan McAlorum has said that her daughter's murderer should be jailed for life.
Thomas Purcell, 19, from Windsor Road, Belfast, had continually denied murdering the 16-year-old from Dunmurry, however in a dramatic twist he admitted to the crime moments before the murder trial was due to begin at Craigavon Crown Court last Monday.
Megan's mother, Margaret McAlorum, said that the family had been given a life sentence and felt that Purcell should get one too.
Mrs McAlorum also believes that Purcell will offend again if released from prison.
She said:"I would never like to see another family go through what we are going through here. I know in my heart that if he gets out he will do the same thing again."
Megan was a former pupil of St Genevieve's High School and had spent Easter Sunday 2004 with friends in the Hunting Lodge bar in west Belfast.
Police believed that Megan left the bar at around midnight and made her way towards her home in Glencolm Way near Lenadoon.
Her body was discovered the next day and it was reported that she had suffered serious head injuries.
Megan's body was found on a desolate stretch of land in a forested area near the Glenside Road area of Dunmurry on 12 April 2004.
Thomas Purcell was arrested a few days later.
He is due to appear before Craigavon Crown Court on May 26, to allow for the preparation of pre-sentence and psychiatric reports.
(EF/GB)
Thomas Purcell, 19, from Windsor Road, Belfast, had continually denied murdering the 16-year-old from Dunmurry, however in a dramatic twist he admitted to the crime moments before the murder trial was due to begin at Craigavon Crown Court last Monday.
Megan's mother, Margaret McAlorum, said that the family had been given a life sentence and felt that Purcell should get one too.
Mrs McAlorum also believes that Purcell will offend again if released from prison.
She said:"I would never like to see another family go through what we are going through here. I know in my heart that if he gets out he will do the same thing again."
Megan was a former pupil of St Genevieve's High School and had spent Easter Sunday 2004 with friends in the Hunting Lodge bar in west Belfast.
Police believed that Megan left the bar at around midnight and made her way towards her home in Glencolm Way near Lenadoon.
Her body was discovered the next day and it was reported that she had suffered serious head injuries.
Megan's body was found on a desolate stretch of land in a forested area near the Glenside Road area of Dunmurry on 12 April 2004.
Thomas Purcell was arrested a few days later.
He is due to appear before Craigavon Crown Court on May 26, to allow for the preparation of pre-sentence and psychiatric reports.
(EF/GB)
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