Family wounds reopened by investigation

anniversary of former Lisburn woman Margaret Weise’s death and murder charges now laid against Dromore man Leslie Ross have reopened old wounds for her family.

Known to many by her married name of Herron and described by those who knew her as an extremely popular woman, Margaret Weise died in August 2007 at the age of 50.

Stonemason Leslie Ross appeared in court last week accused of murdering Margaret and another woman, Michelle Bickerstaff, while a file surrounding the circumstances of the death a decade ago of a third woman, Lily McKee (52), has been reportedly forwarded to the Public Prosecution Service.

Margaret Weise’s son, Paul Herron, said the police investigation had brought back painful memories for the family,

“It just brings back quite a lot,” he told a daily newspaper. “It will be six years (this) week since our mother died. We had closed that chapter and sort of tried to move on but this has all reopened old wounds.”

The account manager was working in Birmingham when news broke of Leslie Ross’s arrest.

“I couldn’t wait to get home to my family,” he said.

Mr Herron was contacted by Michelle Bickerstaff’s sister Sharon Sparks with a heartfelt message of support during what he described as a very painful time for his family.

“I received a message from Michelle Bickerstaff’s sister wanting to know if we wanted to talk,” Mr Herron said. “I will return her message and see what way things are with her family.

“I’m sure we can work on things together. Everyone is going through the same kind of pain.”

answers

Mr Herron pleaded for local people to give police any information they had which might lead to answers about his mother’s death.

“Any information you give could be a piece of the jigsaw,” he said. “I am sure there are people who know more than they are letting on.”