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The dead man’s sisters Wendy, Lorraine and Anne at the scene of the murder |
Sisters visit scene of brother’s ‘execution’
We want justice, say family on anniversary of shooting
THE three sisters of a man killed in an execution-style shooting have flown from Ireland to visit the scene of the murder on the sixth anniversary of his death.
Mark Connor, 30, was found dead at a flat in Shoot-up Hill, West Hampstead, on Valentine’s Day in 2001 after being shot in the back of the head. In gangland style, he had been hooded with a pillow case and his fully-clothed body dumped in a bath.
Mr Connor was found several days after he left his girlfriend’s house in Slough, telling her he had “business to attend to”.
His sisters Wendy, Lorraine and Anne flew from Dublin on Friday to visit the scene and help police with a new appeal for help.
In a statement, they said: “We are a very close family and miss Mark very much. Every day is a struggle living without him.
“He loved his son, who is now ten, and all of his family very much. Our mother and father, Bill and Mary, are hurting so much. They would have travelled today but for the poor health of our father, who cannot come to terms with Mark’s death.”
The statement added that the family would never give up the search for his killers. “We want justice for Mark’s murder and if this takes time we are prepared to take that long road. ‘The hand of God is slow but sure’,” the statement said.
Detectives said Mr Connor was known in some circles as Peter John Joyce.
His sisters said in their statement: “It is so difficult to come here today, to the very part of London where he lost his life. It causes us so much pain. Mark will never come back. We have lost him to this terrible crime. He was murdered in a part of London he loved. He loved the people, his flat and the community itself.”
Detective Inspector Alan Caldwell said that the murder inquiry remained open.
He added: “His sisters have come over from Ireland to commemorate the anniversary of his death and they join me in asking anyone who may have any information about this murder to come forward.”
Police have made several arrests but without securing a conviction for murder. In 2001, a 36-year-old man was charged with the killing but the case collapsed at the first Old Bailey hearing when the prosecution failed to produce enough evidence.
Additionally, a 27-year-old woman was given a 12-month conditional discharge for perverting the course of justice in connection with the police investigation. A similar case against a man in his 40s was dropped. |
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