There was relief and nervous optimism as relatives of Maureen Braddy and Allan Whyte emerged from the courtroom at the end of a four-day inquest into the teenagers’ disappearance.
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More than 44 years after the pair were last seen, the families say it’s been an ongoing battle for answers or clues to what happened.
Younger sister Lyn Ireland – who led the push for the inquest – said the past few days were hard to sit through but “worth every bit of anguish” to get to this point.
“I’m pleased with it, and I’m anxious to hear what the Coroner says,” she said.
“To get it to an inquest is something that no-one thought would happen.”
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Maureen’s sister Deborah MacDonell said it had been a “healing process” that had brought the family closer together. “We’ve been through hell,” she said.
“We’ve all come through it together. We look forward to what comes. We’ve waited this long, we can wait another few months for the verdict.”
Allan Whyte’s brother Kevyn said he still worried about the events surrounding his brother’s disappearance every single day.
He said he was glad to have the case heard in court and was relieved to know something had been done to work out what happened.
Throughout the proceedings, he said his focus repeatedly returned to one location he still believes could hold the key to further answers.
“I just hope they dig up that damn well under the house,” he said.