Police believe that Bangor woman Lisa Dorrian knew her killer.
The announcement comes as police made a fresh appeal today on BBC’s Crimewatch programme for information about her murder 13 years ago. Lisa was killed after being at a party in Ballyhalbert Caravan Park on a cold February night in 2005. Her body has never been found.
Detective Superintendent Jason Murphy from the Serious Crime Branch vowed he has not given up on bringing the 25-year-old’s killer to justice.
“Tragically, Lisa’s loved ones never saw her again and her body has yet to be found. Lisa deserved to grow up and have her own family, just like everyone else, however her life was cruelly cut short,” he said.
To date police have pursued more than 3,500 lines of inquiry. Close to 400 searches have been carried out for Lisa’s body, and evidence relating to her disappearance has been collected.
The Detective Superintendent said as part of their ongoing investigation, officers and specially trained police dogs are conducting searches of three new sites in wooded areas in Craigantlet and Carrickfergus.
“It’s a case we’re determined to solve. Allegiances change, people’s lifestyles change and I want those who were with Lisa that night, or heard accounts of what happened in the immediate aftermath of her murder, or indeed over the years, to search their consciences and come forward to the police. It’s not too late to do the right thing,” he said.
And he added: “We won’t be passing judgement on what people were doing that weekend but we need to know where Lisa is and what happened to her. She was a sister, a daughter and a friend – and had her whole life ahead of her.”
Lisa was socialising with a group of people from Friday, February 25 to Sunday, February 27. She ended up at a party at a caravan site in Ballyhalbert, 30 minutes from her home in Bangor.
“She was last seen alive in the caravan around 10pm on Sunday, February 27. I believe she was murdered that night or in the early hours of the following morning. There is nothing to suggest that Lisa came to harm at the hands of a stranger, I believe she knew her killer.
“Only a small number of people are aware of what happened and I believe that they may have discussed this with their friends or families in the past 13 years. I want you to get in touch with police. I want the killer to know that we have pursued them for 13 years and we remain resolute in seeking justice for Lisa’s family,” added Mr Murphy.
Anyone with information should call detectives on 101 or contact the independent charity Crimestoppers and speak to them anonymously on 0800 555 111.
