DUP MP dismisses colleague's suggestion of Howell home '˜tourist attraction'

Earlier this week, Coleraine DUP councillor suggested that the killer dentist’s one-time property could draw coach loads of tourists, although Mr Cole said that he would neither support nor oppose such a situation.

But in a statement this afternoon, East Londonderry DUP MP Gregory Campbell rejected the suggestion and moved to disassociate the party from the comments.

The DUP veteran said: “The murder of Trevor Buchanan and Lesley Howell, to some people may be just another television drama, but we would do well to remember that these were real life events which robbed families of two dearly loved people.

“There have been some suggestions that locations associated with this crime could somehow become tourist attractions given the media attention to both the original events and the television drama associated with them. As the Member of Parliament for the area this idea does not have my support. “It does not have the support of my Assembly colleagues or the DUP group on Causeway Coast and Glens Council.

“The paramount consideration in this has to be the families at the centre of this awful crime, the pain is still raw and no one should seek to exacerbate that. I want to reassure the families that we are conscious of this. We will not support anything which would exploit the murders. I hope this can offer some comfort and reassurance to the families who are still trying to come to terms with the aftermath of the awful events.”