THE mother of a murder victim has vowed to pursue the killer through the civil courts if he is ever released from prison.

Former Billinge licensee Ian Simms is serving life for the murder of Marie McCourt's daughter, Helen, who disappeared on her way home from work in February, 1988.

Helen's body has never been found and although Home Secretary Jack Straw, has assured Mrs McCourt Simms will not be released until he expresses his remorse, the grieving mother fears he might one day go free.

Speaking after a meeting with Mr Straw, Marie told the Star: "I have been told that unless Simms admits remorse for the murder of Helen he will never be released, but I'm still not convinced he will stay behind bars. "But if that man is ever released he can rest assured that I will take out a private prosecution and take him to court for preventing me and my family from giving Helen the Christian burial she deserves.

"If we never find Helen's body you could say that me and my family have served our own life sentence. Why should we be punished? I respect the law and brought my children up to respect the law, so why should we suffer any more? I just need to find out where Helen is so that we can finally put her to rest."

Since Helen's disappearance, Marie and her family have searched relentlessly for her body, but to no avail.

With the parole board due to review the case, Marie had requested the meeting with Mr Straw to discuss the likelihood of Simms being released and also to talk about the plight of the relatives of victims of murder and manslaughter.

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