helen mccourt was killed more than 30 years ago. n simms, who was jailed for life, has refused to reveal where her body is. now helen's mother says she's horrified after learning that the parole board has recommended him for release. judith moritz reports. though helen mccourt was killed 31 years ago, her body has never been found. with no grave to visit, her mother marie takes comfort instead from a memorial she's created at home. the only person who knows where helen's remains are is the man who murdered her. ian simms was jailed in 1989, and helen's mother has fought for him to stay in prison until he reveals the location. but today came a decision that he's eligible for release. i was devastated when i heard that theirjudgement was that he was going to be released. his victim's body's never been found. that's my daughter. that's all i've ever wanted, was to give helen... she never done anybody any harm. marie mccourt has spent years campaigning to deny parole to killers who don't reveal the location of their victims' remains, but

helen... she never done anybody any harm. marie mccourttion of their victims' remains, but she'd just run out of time. helen's law was about to be introduced when parliament was dissolved for the election. helen mcourt went missing just a few hundred yards from home as she walked past this pub where ian simms was then the landlord. he's been refused parole six times over the last 30 years, but now the parole board says he meets the test for release because of the progress he's made and considerable change in his behaviour. traces of blood and one of helen's earrings were found in the boot of simms' car. it was one of the first cases which relied on dna evidence without a body. this was ian simms in march on day release from prison. the parole decision can be appealed but he could be free by christmas. judith moritz, bbc news, billinge. in washington, the inquiry on whether to impeach president trump has heard that he personally pushed a false theory that ukraine had meddled in the 2016 election. one of the top national security advisers in

helen mccourt was killed more than 30 years ago. l where her body is. now helen's mother says she's horrified after learning that the parole board has recommended him for release. judith moritz reports. though helen mccourt was killed 31 years ago, her body has never been found. with no grave to visit, her mother marie takes comfort instead from a memorial she's created at home. the only person who knows where helen's remains are is the man who murdered her. ian simms was jailed in 1989, and helen's mother has fought for him to stay in prison until he was reveals the location. but today came the decision that he is eligible for release. i was devastated when i heard that the judgment was that he was going to be released. his victim's body has never been found. that's my daughter. that's all i ever wanted, was to give helen... she never did anybody any harm. marie mccourt has spent years campaigning to deny parole to killers who don't disclose their victims' remains. helen's law was on its way to being introduced when parliament was d

helen... she never did anybody any harm. marie mccourtins. helen's law was on its way to being introduced when parliament was dissolved for the election. the ministry ofjustice says it understands this is an extremely upsetting decision, and that ian simms will be released on licence and subject to strict conditions and faces a return to prison if he doesn't comply. ian simms was photographed in march when he was on day release from prison. he has been refused parole six times before. now he could be freed by christmas. judith moritz, bbc news. the band coldplay have a new album. this time around, they have made the decision not to tour. not a great moment if you're a fan who lexi and the like but it's also a blow to their bank account. the last tour groups more than half $1 billion in its two—year, five continent run.|j can imagine they can afford it next but this choice is not about the money. it is about the future, it is about the environment or impact of concerts. instead of spending months on the road, they are going to plate two gi

helen mccourt was killed more than 30 years ago.mother marie takes comfort instead from a memorial she‘s created at home. the only person who knows where helen‘s remains are is the man who murdered her. ian simms was jailed in 1989, and helen‘s mother has fought for him to stay in prison until he was reveals the location. but today came the decision that he is eligible for release. i was devastated when i heard that the judgment was that he was going to be released. his victim‘s body has never been found. that‘s my daughter. that‘s all i ever wanted, was to give helen... she never did anybody any harm. marie mccourt has spent years campaigning to deny parole to killers who don‘t disclose their victims‘ remains. helen‘s law was on its way to being introduced when parliament was dissolved for the election. the ministry ofjustice says it understands this is an extremely upsetting decision, and that ian simms will be released ian simms was photographed in march when he was on day release from prison. he has been refused parole six times

the mother of murder victim helen mccourt has said she is "horrified" by the parole board's decisionped a jury convict helped a jury convict ian simms of murdering helen in 1988. he's spent 30 years in jail and always maintained his innocence. helen's mother has been campaigning for a change in the law to ensure no killer is released if they haven't revealed where their victim's body is. the proposed legislation was called helen's law — but parliament was dissolved before it could pass it. with me now is danny shaw. what are the reasons being given by the parole board ? what are the reasons being given by the parole board? the parole board has given quite a detailed summary of its reasons why it has decided it is safe for him to be released. it has consider a dossier of almost 700 pages long, it took evidence from psychologists, probation workers, and also a prison official. it said that it considered the fact that simms continues to deny any involvement in this mode are at all, and it says because of that, he was so invested in presenting himself as and when he was innocent, there w

helen mccourt was murdered 30 years ago, but her body has never been found.speak at his latest parole hearing today. we'll talk to marie mccourt in a moment, but first abi smitton has the background to the case. helen mccourt was just 22 when she disappeared on her way home from work near st helens in 1988. ian simms was arrested and convicted of her murder and was handed a life sentence one year later. he has never revealed where helen polley bodies. her mum marie has been campaigning for helen's law, to stockill is getting out of prison if they do not say whether victims's bodies are. morning, love. the 1.5 million people find a petition supporting its introduction and in 2016 mp5 supporting its introduction and in 2016 mps voted in favour of her campaign, but it did not receive government support until this year, and then david gauke said the law should be introduced as soon as possible but because parliament has been dissolved ahead of the general election, it means the bill has installed. marie mccourtjoins us now. very good morning to you. good morning,

it's been 31 years since helen mccourt disappeared on her way home from work near st helens.ey believe he'll never disclose that information. however, they say simms' behaviour has improved while in prison and that he now met the test for release. while it remains unclear when simms will be released, marie now has three weeks to launch an appeal against the ruling. marie is with me now. thank you forjoining us today. this decision by the parole board was precisely what you didn't want to hear, tell me about your reaction first? 0h, to hear, tell me about your reaction first? oh, i was to hear, tell me about your reaction first? oh, iwas absolutely to hear, tell me about your reaction first? oh, i was absolutely stunned, you know? i couldn't believe it, because the hearing we had was good, and for the first time in years, i felt that the parole board was listening to what we were saying, about this man, and so it came as a real big shock. i may have expected that they could have made it earlier, that he could have another pa role earlier, that he could have another parole hear