Teen arrested over Turkey murders

19 August 2011 Last updated at 16:33 ET

Kathy Dinsmore and Marion Graham were from County Down

A 17-year-old boy is being questioned by police over the murders of two County Down women in Turkey.

The bodies of Marion Elizabeth Graham and Kathy Dinsmore from Newry were found in a wooded area near the port city of Izmir, on the country’s west coast on Friday.

The boyfriend of Ms Graham’s daughter, referred to as Recep C, is believed to have confessed to the killings.

The First and Deputy First Ministers said the were “shocked” by the deaths.

“We particularly remember at this time Shannon Graham, the daughter of Marion, who was with her mother in Turkey,” a statement from Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness said.

“While circumstances surrounding the deaths have yet to fully emerge, we hope that the person or persons responsible will be brought to justice as soon as possible.”

A taxi driver and the Recep’s father are also being questioned by police.

Shannon Graham, 15, was on a boat trip when the killings happened.

She alerted police when she arrived home and could not get in touch with her mother.

Raymond McGuinness, the girl’s father and Ms Graham’s ex-partner, said he was preparing to fly to Turkey on Saturday to comfort his daughter and make arrangements for the bodies of the victims to be brought back to Northern Ireland.

Mr McGuinness added that “there was always something that was not quite right” with Shannon’s relationship with Recep – a waiter in the tourist resort of Kusadasi.

Zeynep Edrim of BBC World in Turkey said there were reports that the girl’s mother had refused to allow the ng couple to marry.

“It is a leak from the police that has not been confirmed. The people are still interrogating the boy, the boy’s father and a cab driver,” she added.

‘Shock and horror’

The women, who were in their 50s, were travelling on Irish passports and the Department of Foreign Affairs is providing consular assistance to the families.

An Irish diplomat has been dispatched from Ankara to Izmir to liaise with Turkish police.

The murders are another tragedy for Ms Graham’s family.

Her half-sister Belinda Hart was shot dead at her home in Newry in 1997. She was three-months pregnant at the time.

The 17-year-old arrested in connection with the murders is being referred to as Recep C

Ms Graham’s sister Monica Higgins said the family were “absolutely devastated”.

“We’ve just found out. My mother’s in the car crying her eyes out,” she added.

“We’re trying to work with the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs to find out what exactly happened to her.”

Mayor of Newry and Mourne Charlie Casey said there was “shock and horror” within the town.

“They were two popular and well known girls. They were very bubbly and didn’t let life get them down,” he added.

“They had formed a great relationship over a period of years.”

Mr Casey said Ms Dinsmore was a former Newry and Mourne District Council worker.

In a statement her brothers John and George Dinsmore said they were “devastated by the tragic loss of their beloved sister Kathy”.

“The family are grateful for the many condolences and appeal for privacy at this difficult time,” it added.

SDLP leader and South Down MLA Margaret Ritchie offered her condolences to the Graham and Dinsmore families.

“The prayers and thoughts of the entire population in this constituency will be with these women who lost their lives in such traumatic circumstances, their families, their relatives and friends at this sad and difficult time,” she added.

Newry and Armagh MLA Danny Kennedy said: “On behalf of the Ulster Unionist party I would like to extend my deepest sympathies to the families at this awful time.

“I offer any support and assistance which they may require.”

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