This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/8415797.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 2 | Version 3 |
---|---|
Jennifer Cardy murder shocked NI | Jennifer Cardy murder shocked NI |
(about 22 hours later) | |
1981 was one of the most violent years of the Troubles in Northern Ireland, but in that dark numbing year of atrocities, the senseless murder of a little girl still had the power to shock. Now a man has been charged with the killing. | 1981 was one of the most violent years of the Troubles in Northern Ireland, but in that dark numbing year of atrocities, the senseless murder of a little girl still had the power to shock. Now a man has been charged with the killing. |
Jennifer Cardy was found murdered in 1981 | Jennifer Cardy was found murdered in 1981 |
The abduction and murder of nine-year-old Jennifer Cardy united people in grief in a time of great division. | The abduction and murder of nine-year-old Jennifer Cardy united people in grief in a time of great division. |
The schoolgirl had been enjoying her long summer holidays at home with her parents in Ballinderry, near Lisburn. | The schoolgirl had been enjoying her long summer holidays at home with her parents in Ballinderry, near Lisburn. |
On 11 August, she set off on her red bicycle to visit a friend, but she never arrived. | On 11 August, she set off on her red bicycle to visit a friend, but she never arrived. |
Fears for her safety grew when her bike was discovered behind a hedge about a mile from her home. | Fears for her safety grew when her bike was discovered behind a hedge about a mile from her home. |
In the awful hours and days that followed, more than 200 local people joined police and soldiers in one of Northern Ireland's biggest ever searches, combing the area for clues. | In the awful hours and days that followed, more than 200 local people joined police and soldiers in one of Northern Ireland's biggest ever searches, combing the area for clues. |
Her parents, Andrew and Pat, appeared on television during the effort thanking the searchers and saying the unity it had produced showed that Northern Ireland was not all about violence. | Her parents, Andrew and Pat, appeared on television during the effort thanking the searchers and saying the unity it had produced showed that Northern Ireland was not all about violence. |
However, their worst fears were confirmed six days after Jennifer first went missing. | However, their worst fears were confirmed six days after Jennifer first went missing. |
Her body was found by two young fishermen at McKee's Dam, near Hillsborough, about 10 miles from her home on the main Belfast to Dublin road. | |
Drowned | Drowned |
A post mortem examination revealed that Jennifer had been drowned and that her body had been in the water for days before it was discovered. | A post mortem examination revealed that Jennifer had been drowned and that her body had been in the water for days before it was discovered. |
Robert Black has been charged with the murder of Jennifer Cardy | Robert Black has been charged with the murder of Jennifer Cardy |
Police were now dealing with a murder and a series of reconstructions were staged, but no-one has ever been convicted of killing Jennifer. | Police were now dealing with a murder and a series of reconstructions were staged, but no-one has ever been convicted of killing Jennifer. |
The file on her murder has remained open for 28 years and four years ago, detectives revisited her case. | The file on her murder has remained open for 28 years and four years ago, detectives revisited her case. |
A Scotsman, Robert Black, was questioned for a number of days in 2005 but was not charged at the time. | A Scotsman, Robert Black, was questioned for a number of days in 2005 but was not charged at the time. |
The 62-year-old, who resides in England, has now been charged with her murder. | |
It is understood that Mr Black was working as a van driver in 1981 and was delivering posters across the United Kingdom, including Northern Ireland. | It is understood that Mr Black was working as a van driver in 1981 and was delivering posters across the United Kingdom, including Northern Ireland. |