Murder victim Joleen Corr’s family gather for graveside service

The family of a young murder victim have gathered at her graveside for a special service.
By Jonathan McCambridge
Published 30th Jul 2020, 14:52 BST
Carol Corr at her daughter's graveCarol Corr at her daughter's grave
Carol Corr at her daughter's grave

Joleen Corr, 27, was attacked in Downpatrick, County Down, in December 2016 and was left needing 24-hour care.

Last month her former partner Michael O’Connor, 34, was told he would serve at least the full 16 years behind bars for the murder and would only be released under a life-long licence when the parole commissioners considered it safe to do so.

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The court was told that O’Connor had propelled Joleen down a flight of stairs with such force that she suffered catastrophic brain injuries.

The family of Joleen Corr gather for a graveside serviceThe family of Joleen Corr gather for a graveside service
The family of Joleen Corr gather for a graveside service

Her injury was so severe that doctors initially opted not to treat her, but she was left in a vegetative state until a landmark ruling in 2018, when doctors withdrew life support and she died on 26 April.

As part of the police investigation some of her brain tissue had been retained as evidence. After the conclusion of the case it was returned to the family for burial.

Today her family, including her mother Carol Corr, gathered at Joleen’s graveside in the City Cemetery in Belfast to say a final goodbye.