Stab victims' bodies to return home

A general view of the house in Newry, Co Down, belonging to Marion Graham, who was stabbed to death in Turkey
12 April 2012

Arrangements are being made for the bodies of two best friends stabbed to death in Turkey to be brought home.

Marion Elizabeth Graham and Kathy Dinsmore - both aged 53, from Newry, Co Down and described as inseparable - were found murdered in woods 75 miles north of Kusadasi.Sources have said the killings happened after Ms Graham refused a waiter's proposal to marry her 15-year-old daughter, Shannon.

The two women suffered multiple stab wounds, including having their throats cut, and their bodies were found in a forest near a graveyard to the east of the port city of Izmir.

Raymond McGuinness, Ms Graham's ex-partner and the father of Shannon, has arrived in Turkey along with Ms Graham's son David.

The women's bodies have been formally identified, allowing Irish officials to begin making arrangements to have them repatriated.

A spokeswoman for Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs said repatriation depends on flight availability. She said the bodies will be signed off and released as they have now been identified.

The family is being assisted by Irish diplomat Fiona Nic Dhonnacha, the deputy head of mission in Ankara who has travelled to Izmir to support Shannon.

Mr McGuinness said he hoped a flight back to Ireland could be arranged by the middle of the week.

"We've identified the bodies and my main concern now is my daughter," Mr McGuinness said. "We're going to arrange the flight home as soon as possible."

It is understood a 17-year-old Turkish waiter, known to the family as Alex, confessed to the killings after concocting a story the women had been kidnapped. It is believed the teenager has been quizzed by a prosecutor and remains in custody. It is understood the waiter's father and a taxi driver were also arrested, but have been released.

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