URGENT UPDATE: A High Court judge has just ruled that the family of Muriel McKay cannot conduct a radar scan of a shared garden in East London where they believe her remains may be buried. This decision comes more than 55 years after her abduction and murder, a case that has haunted her family for decades.
During a hearing on Tuesday, Mr Justice Richard Smith emphasized that while the circumstances surrounding Ms. McKay’s disappearance were tragic, the family did not establish sufficient grounds for the radar survey. The McKay family, represented by her children Ian McKay and Dianne Levinson, sought permission to scan the garden on Bethnal Green Road following new information indicating that Ms. McKay’s remains could be located there.
The kidnapping occurred on December 29, 1969, when the wealthy wife of newspaper executive Alick McKay was mistakenly taken for Anna Murdoch, the wife of media mogul Rupert Murdoch. Her body has never been found, despite the conviction of two brothers, Arthur and Nizamodeen Hosein, for her murder.
The judge noted that the evidence supporting the claim that Ms. McKay’s remains are buried at the site is currently “thin.” He stated, “The claimants have not established that such relief is needed now, or why the usual pre-trial procedures should not be observed.” He added, “I was not persuaded that even if a survey was carried out, it would be conclusive one way or the other.”
The family’s request for the survey was based on new testimony from a woman named Hayley Frais, whose father operated a tailor shop near the site at the time of the crime. She claimed her father reported a strong smell at the premises around the time of Ms. McKay’s disappearance. Despite this, authorities have not deemed the case sufficient to warrant a police investigation.
In a poignant moment, Mark Dyer, Ms. McKay’s grandson, expressed the emotional weight of the search, stating, “This is important to the whole family. She would like to come home for Christmas.”
However, the homeowner opposing the injunction, Madeleine Higson, described feeling “harassed” by the family’s ongoing attempts to access her property, including alleged deceptive requests for entry. Her lawyer argued that the radar survey would significantly intrude on her privacy and that the McKay family’s actions have caused her considerable distress.
The judge’s ruling has left the McKay family grappling with another setback in their long quest for closure. The family’s attorney, Benjamin Wood, offered apologies for the distress caused, highlighting the sensitive nature of the search for their loved one.
As emotions run high, the McKay family is left to consider their next steps in the ongoing pursuit of justice for Muriel. With no immediate plans for further legal action announced, the situation remains fluid and complex, continuing to capture public interest.
Stay tuned for further updates as this story develops.
