Inga Maria Hauser’s family ‘has trust’ in new inquest into backpacker’s murder

The household of a German backpacker murdered successful Northern Ireland has “trust and sizeable hope” that a caller inquest tin present long-awaited answers astir her death, a coroner has heard.

The assemblage of Inga Maria Hauser was recovered successful a distant wood successful Co Antrim 14 days aft she was past seen live connected a ferry from Scotland.

The 18-year-old’s decease successful April 1988 remains 1 of the region’s astir high-profile unsolved murders.

Coroner Joe McCrisken convened a pre-inquest reappraisal proceeding connected Monday up of a caller inquest into the Munich teenager’s death.

Ms Hauser’s sister Friederike was among those who observed proceedings astatine Belfast Coroners’ Court by videolink.

During the little hearing, barrister for the household Malachy McGowan told Mr McCrisken his clients were grateful for the determination to clasp the probe.

He said the household had been waiting decades for answers.

“They spot their spot and sizeable anticipation successful this process,” helium added.

Mr McCrisken acknowledged however agelong the household had waited for the truth.

“We’ll bash everything we tin to facilitate an probe into this lady’s death,” helium added.

Before her murder, Ms Hauser had travelled done England and Scotland and, according to diary entries, intended to question southbound to Dublin aft her ferry docked astatine Larne, Co Antrim.

For reasons unknown, she ended up going successful the other absorption and was recovered dormant 2 weeks aboriginal successful a distant portion of Ballypatrick Forest.

Police person a antheral familial illustration recovered astatine the execution scene.

A fig of years ago, successful 1 of the largest DNA screenings undertaken successful the UK, 2,000 samples failed to nutrient a definitive match.

In 2018, a twelvemonth that marked the 30th day of the murder, constabulary made respective arrests.

However, 2 years aboriginal prosecutors announced determination was insufficient grounds to prosecute a antheral and a pistillate investigated successful transportation with the death.

Outside tribunal aft Monday’s hearing, solicitor for the household Claire McKeegan said they conscionable wanted the truth.

The household conscionable privation the truth. They conscionable privation the radical who are liable for this brutal execution to beryllium brought to justice

Claire McKeegan

“I spoke to Friederike conscionable earlier we attended the court, she was highly tense and anxious, arsenic is to beryllium expected,” said Ms McKeegan.

“Her household person lived done this nightmare since 1988.”

She added: “The household conscionable privation the truth. They conscionable privation the radical who are liable for this brutal execution to beryllium brought to justice.

“The household are grateful that this process has commenced, apprehensive and hopeless for the truth.”

Late SDLP Assembly subordinate John Dallat was a cardinal fig successful the run to unafraid justness for Ms Hauser.

He daughter, SDLP councillor Helena Dallat O’Driscoll, has continued to prosecute the lawsuit and attended Monday’s hearing.

Also successful attendance were household members of murdered Co Down hairdresser Lisa Dorrian, who went missing from a caravan parkland successful Ballyhalbert, Co Down, successful 2005.

Ms Dorrian’s begetter John and sister Joanne were successful tribunal arsenic the long-awaited inquest proceedings for Ms Hauser formally commenced.

The adjacent reappraisal proceeding has been listed for January 22.