Pair questioned over 1988 backpacker murder may join new inquest

By By David Young, Press Association

Two people interviewed by police in connection with the murder of a German backpacker in Northern Ireland are to be asked whether they wish to participate in her inquest.

On Friday, a pre-inquest review hearing into Inga Maria Hauser’s death was told that a letter enquiring whether the individuals wanted to apply for Properly Interested Person (PIP) status had been drafted but had not yet been sent, as there was some uncertainty over the addresses of the two people.

The body of Hauser was found in a remote forest in Co Antrim 14 days after she was last seen alive on a ferry from Scotland.

The 18-year-old’s death in April 1988 remains one of Northern Ireland’s most high-profile unsolved murders.

Coroner Joe McCrisken is presiding over a fresh inquest into the Munich teenager’s death.

Counsel for the coroner, Philip Henry, updated McCrisken on issues related to the inquest during Friday’s hearing in Omagh.

People granted PIP status at an inquest have a right to access documents related to the case and ask questions during the proceedings.

Henry said the letters were ready to send.

“Given the sensitive nature of the contents we want to make sure we send it to the right address,” he said.

Henry said a “fall-back position” would see police officers hand delivering the letters if the uncertainty over the postal addresses was not resolved.

Before her murder, Hauser had travelled through England and Scotland and, according to diary entries, intended to travel south to Dublin after her ferry docked at Larne, Co Antrim.

For reasons unknown, she ended up going in the opposite direction and was found dead two weeks later in a remote part of Ballypatrick Forest.

Police have a male genetic profile found at the murder scene.

A number of years ago, in one of the largest DNA screenings undertaken in the UK, 2,000 samples failed to produce a definitive match.

In 2018, a year that marked the 30th anniversary of the murder, police made several arrests.

However, two years later prosecutors announced there was insufficient evidence to prosecute a man and a woman investigated in connection with the death.

During Friday’s hearing the coroner was also updated on the ongoing process to disclose official files related to the case, including those held by the police, prosecutors and Forensic Science Northern Ireland.

The next review hearing will take place after the court summer recess period.

After Friday’s hearing, the Hauser family’s solicitor Claire McKeegan welcomed progress on disclosure.

“We on behalf of the family welcome the update and progress that has been made on disclosure,” she said.

“It is important that as much material as possible is shared with the family so that they can prepare and be fully engaged in what will be a demanding and emotional process.”