Diocesan News25 Feb 08

Lisa's cousin appeals for information

Thursday, 28th February, will be the third anniversary of Lisa Dorrian’s disappearance.  The pretty 25-year-old Bangor shop assistant vanished from a caravan park in Ballyhalbert in the early hours of Monday 28th February 2005.  Despite many public appeals, campaigns, advertising, and a £10,000 reward, no information has been forthcoming on her whereabouts.  Lisa’s family has accepted that in all probability she was murdered and her body concealed, but all they ask is for someone to give them the information that will enable the recovery of her body to allow them to give her a Christian burial.

The Revd Adrian Dorrian, who is a Church of Ireland curate in the Diocese of Down & Dromore, is Lisa’s cousin.  In the run up to the third anniversary of Lisa’s disappearance, and with the permission of her immediate family, Adrian is publicly appealing for information on Lisa’s whereabouts.  He says: “It hardly seems possible that it’s three years since Lisa’s disappearance. Not a day goes by when I don’t think of Lisa.  Even now, at certain times of the year or when I see things that remind me of her, it’s difficult.

“As I’ve come before God, to pray for help for Lisa’s family and to pray for a sense of conviction in those who have knowledge about her murder to reveal those details, I’ve been blessed by God in the knowledge that he knows, through his earthly pilgrimage, what suffering is.  As I think of Lisa’s final moments, I can only hope that she knew God was with her – as he is with all of us.

“I’ve also come to realise that the God we stand before is a God of justice.  Justice is a difficult biblical concept at times, because the just nature of God is so beyond anything we can understand.  I believe, though, that any sense of justice we do know in our hearts comes from God.  I appeal to that sense of justice.  Lisa wasn’t alone in that caravan in Ballyhalbert three years ago.  Others were there.  I appeal and beg those of you who were there to realise that you can confidentially make a difference.  It’s too late to bring Lisa back, however it’s not too late to help her family continue the healing process.  Please make a difference.”

Supporting Adrian and the Dorrian family the Bishop of Down & Dromore, the Rt Revd Harold Miller, issued the following statement:  “In this season of Lent we become deeply aware of our mortality and our human sinfulness.  I urge those responsible for Lisa’s disappearance to make a move to resolve this situation – not only for the sake of the Dorrian family, but for the sake of their own souls.”