The parents of a 16-year-old girl found murdered at an isolated spot today made an emotional appeal for help in finding her killer.
The half-naked body of Megan McAlorum was discovered near Belfast in an area of forest, quarries and lakes half a mile from the Glenside Road in Dunmurry late yesterday.
Some of her clothing had been removed, and detectives are attempting to establish whether any sex attack was involved.
A post-mortem was expected to be carried out later today. Her parents, Frankie and Margaret, said they could not understand why any one would want to murder their daughter. "She was full of love and life," said her mother, adding: "She trusted people too much".
Her father said their daughter may have been dragged into a car near their home at Glencolin Way on the edge of the Lenadoon estate in west Belfast and driven away.
"We heard from different people coming to the door and telling us that she had been arguing with somebody up the road. There is supposed to have been somebody trailed her into a car," he said.
The couple, who have six other children, pleaded with anyone with information to contact the police.
PA