Concern for Balham teen with learning difficulties, missing in Malaysia

BY KATE DENNETT
toby@slpmedia.co.uk

The family of a schoolgirl who has gone missing on holiday suspect criminal involvement.
Balham schoolgirl Nora Quoirin, 15, went missing on a family holiday to Malaysia on Sunday.

Nora has learning and development disabilities, making her vulnerable and meaning she cannot look after herself.

Her family suspect that she was abducted as she has never wandered off by herself before.
Nora disappeared from The Dusan resort in a nature reserve near Seremban.

Her father discovered her missing from her bedroom at 8am local time. He found that her window had been opened.

Malaysian police are treating it as a missing persons case and are conducting widespread search of the jungle terrain for Nora.

The police have told the family that it is too early to rule out kidnap or abduction at this stage.

Nora’s aunt, Aisling Agnew, spoke in Belfast on the day of her disappearance.
She said: “Nora’s parents and relatives in Ireland and France are distraught by her disappearance.

“Nora is a child with special needs and has learning and developmental disabilities which make her especially vulnerable and we fear for her safety.

“Nora would not know how to get help and would never leave her family voluntarily. We now consider this a criminal matter.

We are appealing to everyone to assist the local police in any way they can and to pass on any information that would help locate our beloved Nora without delay.”

Ms Agnew has set up an online fundraising page for Nora and the family have asked anyone living in the area to “get out and join the search”.

Nora’s local church, St Bede’s in Clapham Park, has shown solidarity with the family. They said: “Our prayers are asked for Nora Quoirin, a 15-year-old parishioner at St Bede’s, who is missing in Malaysia whilst on her holiday with family.

“Please pray for her safety and for her family who are distressed at this time.

“The church will remain open throughout the day for prayers.”

British charity The Lucie Blackman Trust is supporting the family.

The charity’s chief executive, Matthew Searle, said: “This is a very vulnerable young girl missing in a remote location.

“It is imperative that every resource available is deployed to search for her. It is possible she has been seen or taken in by somebody and is unable to communicate, so we urge everyone who can to share our appeal poster and social media appeals.

Sadly it is also possible that Nora has been the victim of serious crime – we urge anyone with any information to come forward.”

The family have set up an email address for more information to help with Nora’s safe return.

People with information are asked to contact findnoraq@gmail.com or contact The Lucie Blackman Trust anonymously by calling 448000988485 or emailing ops@lbtrust.org.