Lisa Dorrian disappearance - 2nd Anniversary Appeal
28 Feb 2007
Detectives investigating the murder of Lisa Dorrian have joined with her family to mark the second anniversary of her disappearance by launching an advertising campaign to encourage the small group of people who know what happened to her to come forward with information.
25-year-old Lisa went missing in the early hours of 28 February 2005 from a caravan at Ballyhalbert. Despite extensive searches, arrests and inquiries, Lisa’s body has not been recovered.
The advertising campaign is targeted in Bangor, Newtownards and Rathcoole – locations where detectives believe that individuals have information about what happened to Lisa. It will be concentrated on poster sites, bus shelters, phone boxes, buses and some entertainment venues.
Launching the campaign in Bangor today, the police officer in charge of the investigation, Detective Chief Inspector Sean Wright, said: “Two years on, this is still a live, active and ongoing investigation. The perpetrators may think they have evaded justice but this investigation will continue.
“I want to renew awareness of the case in the broader public domain and send a message to those who murdered Lisa and hid her body as well as those individuals who have knowledge of what happened.
“The message is that this investigation will not be concluded until Lisa’s body is recovered and her killer or killers caught. The investigation team need to know about what happened to Lisa, not about those who come forward with information.”
So far in the investigation there have been 70 searches – 48 of houses or on land, six underwater and 16 using body recovery dogs. Six people have been arrested and 53 interviews of suspects conducted. 3,500 people have been spoken to, 2,800 lines of enquiry registered, 1,000 statements have been taken and there are 5,000 supporting documents.
DCI Wright continued: “A very small number of people were involved in Lisa’s murder and the disposal of her body. They know who they are and they are going to have to live with that for the rest of their lives and, while they are not before the courts today, police will continue the investigation with that objective.
”I believe it is human nature to talk and these people have done that. It is also possible for relationships and allegiances to change. I think this has happened too. I am asking the people who know Lisa’s murderers, whether they are friends or girlfriends, I am asking them on this second anniversary of her disappearance to ask themselves if one of their sisters went missing how would they feel. I would appeal to them to do the right thing, make a difference to Lisa’s family. They will no longer have to live with the worry that some day police are going to knock on their door.”
Lisa’s mother, Mrs Patricia Dorrian, said: “It is two years since we last saw our beautiful daughter Lisa. They have been two long and hard years, which have taken their toll on all our family. We were never given the chance to say goodbye to Lisa.
“Lisa's youngest sister Ciara, who was only eight years old when Lisa disappeared, has panic attacks at night, screaming and crying for her Lisa. We, as parents, should be able to alleviate her fears, but we can’t because we don’t have the answers.
“We are appealing to anyone who knows anything to please tell the police, no matter how trivial it may seem. It may help us as a family to grieve and try to accept that Lisa is never coming back. They say time is a great healer, but for us it just gets worse.”
Police believe Lisa’s body was moved out to sea some months after she was murdered. They are looking to find new forensic opportunities, nationally and internationally, to progress the investigation. A number of scenes have been retained to allow every scientific and forensic opportunity to be exploited.
DCI Wright added: “I would also appeal to people in the sailing or boating community to come forward if they have any knowledge about a distinctive boat, a red Skeeter 550, and its movements over the last week in July and first week in August 2005.
”I would ask those people with information to contact me on the main police exchange 0845 600 8000 and ask for MIT5 at North Queen Street. Alternatively, they can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
This media campaign has been assisted by the generosity of a number of companies and agencies. The Police Service and the Dorrian family are grateful for their support.
