A legacy for Helen - Marie McCourt

As featured in The Mirror, this is the story of mother's quest to find her murdered daughterBurying a child is every parent's nightmare. But Marie McCourt has spent over 30 years yearning to do just that.On 9 February 1988, Marie's 22-year-old daughter, Helen, left her office in Liverpool city centre and began her usual commute home. But she was never seen again. . . Within days, local pub landlord Ian Simms was charged with her murder. Despite Helen's body not being found, overwhelming DNA and circumstantial evidence at his trial secured his conviction, and he was sentenced to life.But Simms' refusal to disclose the whereabouts of Helen's body means that Marie and her family have never been able to have a grave at which they can lay flowers and pay their respects.For over 30 years, Marie has searched, in vain, for her daughter's body and campaigned tirelessly to prevent other families from facing the same horrifying fate, taking her fight to the houses of parliament. The resulting 'Helen's Law', ground-breaking legislation that recognises the distress caused to families of missing homicide victims, was passed in November 2020.This is the incredible story of a mother, devastated by the loss of her daughter, whofound the strength and determination to change the law.

Marie McCourt, 76, is a married mother of two from Merseyside. Her daughter Helen was murdered in 1988 and she has spent the last 30 years trying to find her daughter's body. Marie's co-writer, journalist Fiona Duffy, has personally supported Marie and her campaign for the last 21 years, during which they formed a deep bond.

 
Fiona Duffy first heard of Marie's desperate search for her daughter while working as Women's Editor on the Liverpool Echo in 1995 - seven years after Helen's murder. Three years later, working as a commissioning editor on a women's magazine in London, Marie's story landed on her desk to be edited. Over the last 21 years she has worked exceptionally closely with Marie, writing countless stories and supporting her during every step of her fight for justice.