Jennifer Cardy parents prayed killer Black would '˜know peace of God'

Jennifer Cardy, from Ballinderry, was one of four young girls Black was convicted for murdering. The nine-year-old was abducted while she cycled to a friend’s house near her Co Antrim home in 1981.

Aged 68, Black died in Maghaberry prison on Tuesday of natural causes.

He never accepted guilt, showed any remorse or apologised. At his sentencing, his barrister took the unusual step of offering nothing in mitigation.

Jennifer’s parents, Pat and Andy Cardy, said their Christian faith influenced their attitude to Black.

Mrs Cardy said she wished she could have met him before his death as she believed he may have been responsible for other unsolved child murders.

“Had I been able to talk, just as a woman to a man, and ask him where did he throw or fling or put the bodies of many more little girls that he killed,” she told the BBC.

“That hasn’t been proved, I know that, but there are many children’s murders, little girls’ murders with his hallmark.”

She added: “As Christians, Robert Black could have had what I have and what Andrew has, and our whole family – that is just the beautiful peace of God.

“I have actually prayed for Robert Black that he could come to this and therefore, his life that produced no good could now begin to change. I would have loved that for Robert Black.”

Mr Cardy said: “I’ve often said that he stole the life from our daughter but we would not allow him to steal our lives.

“We were determined to live on and live on for the family that we had, but the hurt is still there.

“We miss Jennifer but we have to move on, we have to keep going.”