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| Helen McCourt murder police dig up grave | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Police investigating the murder of a woman whose body has never been found are digging up a grave. | |
| Helen McCourt, 22, from Billinge, near St Helens, vanished in 1988 after calling her mother to tell her when she would be home from work in Liverpool. | Helen McCourt, 22, from Billinge, near St Helens, vanished in 1988 after calling her mother to tell her when she would be home from work in Liverpool. |
| Officers acting on intelligence linked to her disappearance are searching at St Aidan's Church in Billinge. | Officers acting on intelligence linked to her disappearance are searching at St Aidan's Church in Billinge. |
| The family that owns the plot has agreed to the grave being dug up, police said. | |
| The Ministry of Justice, HM Coroner for St Helens and the Bishop of Liverpool's Registry have also provided consent. | The Ministry of Justice, HM Coroner for St Helens and the Bishop of Liverpool's Registry have also provided consent. |
| Det Ch Supt Tim Keelan, said: "We are acting on information suggesting that Helen's body could have been placed in this particular grave. | Det Ch Supt Tim Keelan, said: "We are acting on information suggesting that Helen's body could have been placed in this particular grave. |
| "We are now seeking to determine if this is the case." | "We are now seeking to determine if this is the case." |
| Pub landlord Ian Simms, a married father of two, was convicted of murder and given a life sentence after blood and an earring identical to one owned by Miss McCourt were found in his car boot. | Pub landlord Ian Simms, a married father of two, was convicted of murder and given a life sentence after blood and an earring identical to one owned by Miss McCourt were found in his car boot. |
| Old mine shafts have previously been searched along with drain ditches and drained ponds. | Old mine shafts have previously been searched along with drain ditches and drained ponds. |