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THE PARENTS OF Nora Quoirin, the teenager found dead after ten days missing in the Malaysian jungle while on a family holiday, have demanded answers from officials after it was ruled an inquest would not be held into her death.
The 15-year-old’s French-Irish parents Sebastien and Meabh Quoirin have been pleading for answers ever since her body was discovered 2.5km from a holiday resort where the family had been staying in Dusun in August last year.
Inquests are routinely held in the Ireland and the UK if the cause of death is found to be from something other than natural causes.
However, Malaysian authorities classified Nora’s death as “no further action” (NFA), according to charity the Lucie Blackman Trust, which is supporting the London teenager’s family.
The Quoirins said they were “shocked” by the decision, as they believe there are still unanswered questions around how the vulnerable teenager – born with the brain defect holoprosencephaly – came to leave her room and venture into the jungle, and whether she was alone at the time.
In a statement, Nora’s parents said:
We cannot believe, nor understand why, any modern economy would label such a harrowing and mysterious case NFA without full process and the total refusal to communicate with us is both insulting and unfathomable.
‘Ignored’
The Quoirins said an initial post-mortem examination found Nora died from gastro-intestinal bleeding and an ulcer, likely brought on by starvation and/or stress, but that the full findings had yet to be presented.
They said: “The AGC’s (Malaysian Attorney General’s Chambers) decision prevents justice being done.
“As we have stressed from the beginning of this case, it is crucial to understand how Nora came to be found where she was.
“As a vulnerable child, with significant physical and mental challenges, we strongly refute any conclusion that Nora was alone for the entire duration of her disappearance.
“We have repeatedly asked the police to clarify answers to our questions in this regard – and we have been repeatedly ignored.
This stands in stark contrast with the promise of transparency that we received from the deputy prime minister and other prominent officials whom we met in Malaysia.
‘Closing down’
Matt Searle, chief executive of the Lucie Blackman Trust, accused Malaysian authorities of “effectively closing down” the case.
He said: “The idea that Nora went off, on her own, seems incredibly unlikely.
“This family need answers and at least deserve an investigation to the greatest lengths available.
We are urgently seeking answers from various authorities – Nora’s death needs to be explained.
Nora’s family last month asked the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs for assistance in their quest for answers over the teenager’s death.
A spokesman said: “The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade continues to provide ongoing consular assistance in this case.
“In line with department policy, we will not be commenting further.”
Her funeral service was held at St Brigid’s church in south Belfast in September, the church where she was baptised.
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Regardless of which theory one subscribes to, I don’t think any of them would align with ‘natural causes’. It would appear that regardless, an inquest is warranted
@David Memery: you are applying Irish and UK procedures to another country…Evey country is different.
If their is no evidence of foul play then there’s not a whole lot for an inquest to do. Inquest deal with who, where, when a person died and the cause of death.
@SF Knee Knockers: Maby the great solicitor they have is pushing for it. Might scrape a few more Euro out of the hotel/ house they staying at. After all the 40k they are suing for won’t get them much. They just need to accept it happened and try get on with their lives for the other kids they have.
@olivia smith: I don’t see how the resort was negligent in this case. There was nothing they could have done to prevent this tragic event occuring.
@David Memery: I have to agree with SF Knee Knockers. There is no evidence either forensic, witness or circumstancual that points to a third party or any form of foul play. I can understand the Parents grief and loss and looking for someone to blame. But there is nobody to blame in this instance.
@olivia smith: I did not read anywhere that Noirin had a mental illness. Where did you read that?
@Philomena Stack: I don’t think there was any mental illness. Olivia more than likely means intellectual disability.
@Philomena Stack: Sorry something wrong with her brain. Either way she should not have been brought to suck a remote place.
@Mick.: my last reply to you seems to have been removed. I agree with you totally. Resort was not to blame. Parents should have known better then to bring here there with her disability.
I think at the very least the search procedure needs to be improved incase of any future incidents. Search of 2.5km radius within very thick rain forest should still be achievable. Dog team should of easily covered it.
@Mick.: It was discussed on the radio earlier in the week and it was said that there was a security gate in the hotel resort. On the gate there was a sign saying the gate should be locked at all times. The parents never remember seeing this gate locked, in fact they said it spent most of the time open, as in ajar. It was through this gate that see walked out of the resort. So if that was the case there maybe some negligence.
@olivia smith: that’s nasty
@geraldo: No it’s not. Bring her to centre parks if they want that type if experience. Don’t blame the resort for their lack of judgement.
@David Memery: she had mental age of 6, u would think they would keep closer eye on 6yr old, obviously we all feel for them but they trying to blame everyone else
@Colin Keogh: Spot on.
What a nightmare – I hope they get the answers they are looking for. Surely the Irish/British/French governments can assist in some way.
Did ths British do an autopsy when her body was returned? I know the girl travelled on an Irish passport but it is the law in the UK that any death unexplained or violent on forgrin soil of a UK citizen an inquest has to be held in the UK… . Irrespective of the other country that the person died in.
Sorry for their loss. But these parents are partially responsible for death of their daughter by bringing a mentally challenged child in to a country like that, simply by leaving her alone in that place for more than a second. Projection of blame is always the normal outcome. Again I feel for their loss, sorry they lost their daughter. Terrible outcome
@The Equalizer: it was their 3rd visit there
A sad case. It reminds us that when we travel abroad, we submit ourselves to the legal system in a foreign country where standards may be different to ours. Police investigations, inquests, post mortems etc may all be conducted to a different standard and with a different regard to the rights of the individual. Similarly foreigners travelling to our country submit themselves to our legal systems. I don’t believe that the parents’ questions will ever be answered to their satisfaction.
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