Westlife appeal for missing Nora Quoirin as band beg Malaysian fans to help find ‘vulnerable’ schoolgirl
WESTLIFE have joined the appeal for missing Nora Quoirin, asking Malaysians to come forward with any information that could help find the schoolgirl.
The band are currently in Malaysia, where the 15-year-old disappeared from a jungle resort on Sunday, to play two dates of a concert tour.
Speaking during a show at the Malawati Stadium in the city of Shah Alam this evening, group member Nicky Byrne said: "We call on all the people in this country to offer their assistance in providing the latest information on Nora's disappearance.
"We are sure her family is now hoping for Nora to return to their arms safely.
"[We are sure Nora's] family is very grateful for your help.
"Thank you Malaysia."
The band also tweeted a poster describing Nora, writing: "Please repost and RT across all your social media and help find Nora.
"We are in KL and doing a concert tonight & it’s very upsetting to hear this news."
Some 200 people, a helicopter, and sniffer dogs are now involved in the search for Nora.
ABDUCTION INVESTIGATION
Nora's parents discovered her missing from her room at the Dusun Resort on Sunday morning after putting her to bed the night before wearing only her undergarments.
The family had arrived just a day earlier for a two-week "trip of a lifetime" at the resort, which sits 39 miles south of the capital Kuala Lumpur.
Local police initially treated the disappearance as a missing persons case, insisting they saw no evidence of foul play, but yesterday conceded Nora could have been abducted after finding unidentified fingerprints on a window in the living room of the family's cottage.
Her parents have said from the beginning that they believe she was abducted.
A forensics team is examining the prints, and police said today they believe Nora could only have left the property through that window.
The window was found propped open, and her family have said Nora, who has learning difficulties, could not have opened it on her own.
'DEVASTATED'
In an emotional video statement released yesterday, Nora's family said they remained hopeful she could still be found.
Speaking on behalf of Nora's parents, her aunt said: "We are completely overwhelmed by the support we have received from all over the world.
"This is extremely traumatic for the whole family.
"[Nora's parents] Meabh and Sebastien are devastated and too upset to speak themselves at this time.
"But we must remain hopeful.
"And we ask everyone to keep Nora in their thoughts, and to continue to support the ongoing search for her.
"Nora is still missing, and she is very vulnerable, and we need to do everything we can to bring her home."
She thanked the Royal Malaysian Police Force, the search and rescue teams, the local community, hotel staff, and the embassies in Malaysia for everything they had done to help find Nora.
She also thanked the Lucie Blackman Trust, a charity that helps Brits hit by crises overseas, for their support.
RESORT STAFF 'PRAYING HARD'
Haanim Bamadhaj, a spokesman for the Dusun resort, where the family were due to be staying, said the resort's management was baffled by Nora's disappearance.
Resort staff and even some guests had earlier joined in the search.
Bamadhaj said: "Our resort has been operating for 10 years and we have never even been robbed.
"We are doing our very best and praying hard."
Following Nora's disappearance, she said some guests had cancelled their bookings and that the resort had provided full refunds.
Access to the site has been blocked due to the search operation.
Villagers who joined in the search expressed concern over the missing girl's fate.
Bali anak Akau said: "This particular jungle, for outsiders, they don't know how to navigate, they get lost.
";Natives like me, we are used to this jungle."
A member of staff at the hotel told The Sun Online there is "no way of knowing" whether the window in Nora's room was opened from the outside or the inside.
The area is not covered by CCTV.
APPEAL FOR INFORMATION
The family had been due to spend two weeks on the 12-acre Dusun Resort next to the Berembun Forest Reserve - 4,000 acres of protected forest rising to 3,900 feet.
The forest has wild boar, deer, giant millipedes, monkeys and leeches, according to the resort's website.
There are two small villages near the resort where the majority of residents work in farming.
Nora is understood to have been travelling on an Irish passport.
A spokesman for Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs said: "We are aware of the case and providing consular assistance."
The family has set up an email address where information can be passed on at [email protected].
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The Lucie Blackman Trust charity has also provided a hotline and email address for information.
People can remain anonymous and can call +448000988485 or email [email protected].
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