Megan murder accused changes plea
Megan McAlorum’s body was found in an area of forest
A man accused of murdering a 16-year-old girl two years ago has admitted killing the teenager.
Thomas Purcell, 19, from Windsor Road, Belfast, had consistently denied murdering Megan McAlorum from Dunmurry.
He was due to stand trial in Craigavon Crown Court on Monday but at the last minute he changed his plea to guilty.
Megan’s semi-naked body was found on a desolate stretch of land in a forested area near Glenside Road in Dunmurry on 12 April 2004.
Purcell was arrested just days later.
The case was put back until next month to allow for the preparation of pre-sentence and psychiatric reports.
Megan was a former pupil of St Genevieve’s High School and had spent Easter Sunday 2004 with friends in the Hunting Lodge bar before she disappeared.
