Roz Purcell

This wasn't the only shock Bernie and Kathleen were in for.

The parole board was also in error, provided with information regarding your clients being relevant victims, being relatives of Elizabeth Plunkett.

The term relevant victims is set out in the 2019 Parole Act and with no conviction it meant Elizabeth's family were no longer considered victims.

Unfortunately this meant that the Plunkett family would be excluded from the process and their voice wouldn't be heard in challenging John Shaw's application for parole.

The Parole Board tell us that we're irrelevant victims.

To be told that you can't be involved in it was such a shock, wasn't it, Catherine?

Like a slap in the face at the time.

It was like...

It took me, like, two or four days, you know, to think, what am I, like... If the parole board hadn't come near us, they have invited us to take part in the process.

It's one of the hardest things I've ever done in my life, and we did it out of duty.

He got away with Elizabeth's murder.

And we're supposed to go and say, well, OK, thanks very much and walk away and leave it like that.

So we won't be able to do that.

James, Amy and everyone legally involved in representing the Plunketts.

agreed to continue helping the family for no charge.

They were shocked and James' words were, you are being treated appallingly.

I was anxious to say this isn't the end of the road, we will look into this.

We would do our best to try and find out exactly what had happened to give them some answers.

Managing partner James McGill could see that there were many outstanding issues.

Very, very grateful.