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Beatrice Jones recalls painful memories in a bid to help others understand loss.

Beatrice Jones’ daughter, Moira, was murdered in a horrific attack in 2008. As she struggled to make sense of the violence, Beatrice wrote about her inner turmoil in a private journal. She shares this writing in The Dark Shadow of Murder.

Moira had been abducted, beaten, raped and murdered in Glasgow by Marek Harcar. The Slovakian, who had criminal convictions for violence, was .

As Beatrice's diary reveals, the pain of Moira's death will live with her family forever.

Of her decision to document events, Beatrice explains: "I have decided my writing is going to be for Moira."

"This is something that may help me, something that will keep me focused, by giving me a purpose.

"Maybe my pain will be eased if, as I write of my desolation and despair, I also write of my lovely Moira.”

Journal entry

Beatrice recounts every event associated with the case; from the moment a plain-clothes detective arrived at their home in Staffordshire bearing "bad news from Scotland", to the trial and beyond.

Moira with her brother, mother and father

In a moving entry from the journals, Beatrice describes how she, her husband Hu and son Grant, went to see their beloved Moira, one final time.

"The three of us were taken to the mortuary. We were told that we wouldn’t be able to touch Moira, as we would see her through a glass screen.

"We knew it was Moira and I wanted to stroke my girl’s face, but couldn’t. And there was no warm smile, no expressive gesture, no dancing eyes. Moira wasn’t there anymore.

"I know we tried to say goodbye but there could be no hugs or kisses and everything was heart-wrenchingly, horribly wrong. Wrong.

"Moira – so good, so loved, so loving – lying there cold, alone in a police mortuary. Dead."

Supporting victims

Twelve years on, the dark shadow of Moira's murder continues to loom over the family. But Beatrice has focused her energy on others.

She and Hu have established the Moira Fund, a charity offering financial help to families who have experienced murder or manslaughter. Beatrice has also campaigned for stricter controls on known criminals entering the country.

The Jones family were devastated by Moira's brutal death, and while sharing her journals is clearly painful, Beatrice believes it can serve a greater good.

"It may help others to understand the anguish associated with the violent death of a loved one." she says.

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