Nora Quoirin’s family: ‘Our hearts are broken’ after her body is found in Malaysia

The family of Nora Quoirin have said their “hearts are broken” after the London teenager’s body was found in Malaysia.

Nora, 15, was reported missing 10 days ago while on a family holiday at a jungle resort of Dasun, near Seremban – around an hour south of the capital Kuala Lumpur.

Her body was found about 1.2 miles from where she had been reported missing.

Her parents Meabh and Sebastien Quoirin said in a statement: “Nora is at the heart of our family.

“She is the truest, most precious girl and we love her infinitely.

“The cruelty of her being taken away is unbearable. Our hearts are broken.

“We will always love our Nora.”

Their lawyer Sankara Naire said a post-mortem exam on Nora’s body would take place on Wednesday.

He added: “The family and I wish to express our greatest gratitude to the police and all the authorities involved in this search.

“It is a highly traumatic situation. It’s the loss of a daughter and child and naturally traumatic levels are very high.”

He added: “I think they are still pondering on the next course of action, because they are so overcome by grief and I think it is not in their mind yet.”

Mr and Mrs Quoirin said Nora read like a young child, could not write more than a few words, and was unable to do maths, making money impossible to manage.

They said she was unable to make or receive phone calls independently.

Nora was born with brain defect holoprosencephaly, and her mother said she had been “vulnerable since the day she was born”.

Nora’s father found she was not in her bedroom on the morning of 4 August, when he went in and discovered the window was open.

In the early stages of the investigation police in Malaysia said there was no evidence of foul play, but her family repeatedly insisted she had been abducted.

National deputy police chief Mazlan Mansor earlier said the body was found without any clothing.

Police said they sent officials to a waterfall near Gunung Berembun in the Pantai Hills after receiving a call from a member of the public.

Nora was travelling on an Irish passport while on holiday, but her French-Irish parents have lived in London for 20 years.

Matthew Searle, chief executive of the Lucie Blackman Trust, said the timeline of repatriating her body would depend on whether extensive forensics needed to be carried out.

The president of Ireland, Michael D Higgins, offered condolences to Nora’s parents, Meabh and Sebastien, and their family.

He added: “On behalf of the people of Ireland, I would also like to express my gratitude for the assistance given by the Malaysian authorities in the search for Nora, for the volunteers who answered the call to join the search and for all those throughout Malaysia, Ireland, Britain and France who offered what support they could.”

The French foreign office said: “We have learned with great sadness of the passing of the young Nora Quoirin in Malaysia.”

France’s Europe and foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and secretary of state for Europe Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne said: “The French authorities are at the disposition of the Malaysian authorities so that light can be shed on the circumstances of her death.”

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar tweeted: “Our thoughts & sincere condolences are with Nora Quoirin’s parents, siblings & wider family at this unimaginably difficult time.

“They have experienced every family’s worst nightmare. I’d like to pay tribute to everyone who searched for Nora.

“May she rest in peace.”

Nora attended St Bede’s Catholic Church in Clapham Park, south London, which has been holding vigils for her since she went missing.

(c) Sky News 2019: Nora Quoirin’s family: ‘Our hearts are broken’ after her body is found in Malaysia