Missing Irish girl: family incensed at media's overture

NILAI, Aug 7 (Bernama) -- The family of Irish girl, Nora Anne Quoirin, 15, who went missing since Sunday was incensed when local and international journalists tried to approach them for interviews at the The Dusun resort area in Pantai, here.

The journalists who had been waiting, stumbled upon four people who were believed to be the family members of the victim, when they walked out of the resort area heading towards Gunung Berembun accompanied by a local woman.

When approached, a man who was believed to be the father of the victim, scolded the media practitioners who tried to take their photographs and told them not to do so.

"No picture! Please stop the recording. What if this happens to your family," he said.

Seeing their response, the media had to comply and efforts to get a statement from the family of the victim on the incident since the first day the victim was reported missing came to nought.

In addition, their intention in heading to Gunung Berembun was also not known.

Meanwhile, the search and rescue (SAR) which was entering its fourth day today continued to be the focus of local and international media.

Journalists, photographers and cameramen from numerous media agencies had started to gather at the entrance route to the resort from 7 am, in fact, there were some who were willing to put up the night in the area close to the resort.

Until to date, the media were still not allowed to enter the resort area which was tightly guarded by the security forces.

At the same time, the number of personnel involved in the SAR had been boosted to 206 members from 159 members yesterday.

Those who were involved in the SAR included the police, Semenyih Camp Battalion 4 General Operations Force (GOF), Battalion 3 GOF Senoi Praaq Unit, State Malaysia Fire and Rescue Department, Malaysian Civil Defence Force, Malaysian Volunteer Corp Department (RELA), State Forestry Department, Sapura personnel and local villagers including Orang Asli.

The Irish girl, Nora Anne, who was suffering from learning disabilities, arrived with her family from London, England on Saturday for a two-week holiday before the family realised her disappearance from her room at the resort at 8 am the next day.

-- BERNAMA