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A body found in Malaysia has been confirmed to be that of missing teenager Nora Quoirin.<\/p>\nA body found in Malaysia has been confirmed to be that of missing teenager Nora Quoirin.<\/p>\n
The 15-year-old\u2019s body was identified by the Quoirin family today, hours after it was discovered following a large-scale search operation.<\/p>\n
Nora, who has special needs, disappeared from the jungle resort of Dusun on Sunday August 4, where she had been on holiday with her family.<\/p>\n
The Lucie Blackman Trust, which is handling media for the Quoirin family, confirmed \u201cwith great sadness that the body found today is that of missing teenager Nora Quoirin. Local police have confirmed identification.\u201d<\/p>\n
Earlier national deputy police chief Mazlan Mansor told reporters at a press conference the body had been found beside a small stream about 2.5 kilometers from the resort, by volunteers who were helping the search team.<\/p>\n
He said the remains had been winched by helicopter to a hospital mortuary, where her family were due to identify her.<\/p>\n
He added that the body \u201cwas not in any clothings\u201d and said while it remained a missing persons case police were looking into all possibilities including the \u201cangle of criminal investigation\u201d.<\/p>\n
Nora\u2019s mother made a heartfelt appeal yesterday to find her as a \u20ac10,000 reward \u2013 donated by an anonymous Belfast business \u2013 was offered for information leading to her safe return.<\/p>\n
The teenager\u2019s parents, Meabh and Sebastien Quoirin, a French-Irish couple who have lived in London for 20 years, thanked those looking for her as fundraising pages set up by Nora\u2019s aunt and uncle collected more than \u00a3100,000 from well-wishers.<\/p>\n
Following news that a body had been discovered, T\u00e1naiste Simon Coveney described it as a \u201charrowing\u201d time.<\/p>\n
He tweeted: \u201cIrish + French embassies in Malaysia working together to provide every assistance to the Quoirin family. Irish embassy is in touch with Malaysian authorities on today\u2019s discovery of a body. At this harrowing time all of our thoughts + prayers are with the family.\u201d<\/p>\n
Volunteer hikers and even reportedly a shaman were among those taking part in the search for Nora, who was born with the brain defect holoprosencephaly.<\/p>\n
The Quoirins had said Nora\u2019s condition meant she was not independent and had difficulty walking.<\/p>\n
Appearing in front of the cameras yesterday, a visibly emotional Mrs Quoirin said: \u201cNora is our first child.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe has been vulnerable since the day she was born.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe is so precious to us and our hearts are breaking.\u201d<\/p>\n
On Monday morning, a total of 348 personnel were deployed in the search operation, according to Malaysia\u2019s Malay Mail newspaper.<\/p>\n
Previously, search crews looking for Nora played her mother\u2019s voice in the dense Malaysian forest near where she disappeared.<\/p>\n
Mrs Quoirin could be heard saying \u201cNora, darling, Nora, I love you, Mum is here,\u201d on the recording.<\/p>\n
Police had said the teenager, who was travelling on an Irish passport, was believed to have climbed out of her resort room window.<\/p>\n
After Nora went missing, her family described how she was particularly vulnerable.<\/p>\n
They said: \u201cNora is a very special person. She is fun, funny, and extremely loving. With her family, she is very affectionate \u2013 family is her whole world.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe is not like other teenagers. She is not independent and does not go anywhere alone.\u201d<\/p>\n
The National Crime Agency (NCA), the Metropolitan Police and Irish police were supporting the Malaysian police with the case.<\/p>\n
The Lucie Blackman Trust provides support to families with a loved one in crisis abroad.<\/p>\n