‘I will take Nicola’s last moments to my grave’
Footage of the unconscious student and her friend in the back of a taxi as her alleged killer and another man spoke crudely of having sex with them was played in court this week.
Nicola’s father, Andrew Furlong, told the Tubridy Show it was “stomach-churning” watching the last footage of his daughter alive in the back of a taxi in Tokyo.
“In the taxi it was the last live pictures that we’ll ever see of Nicola,” said Mr Furlong. “This was a couple of hours before she was killed.
“To see it and to hear what was being said was stomach-churning because it’s your baby that’s in that taxi.
“To hear what was being said by the accused, it wasn’t easy. We’ll take it to our grave.”
In the footage the accused, Richard Hinds, said: “We need to keep them fucked up.”
Mr Hinds has denied strangling the Irish student to death with a towel in the Tokyo courtroom.
Mr Furlong, who is in Tokyo for the next two weeks for the trial with his partner Angie and their daughter Andrea, said he is holding it together for his youngest daughter.
“Everyone tells me I’m strong and this and that and the other,” he said. “I’m holding it together for my other baby, Andrea. Every time she sits into the car or goes away you’re wondering if she will ever come back.
“She’s all I have left now at this stage. I plan on holding on to her for another while. The angels are not taking her as quick as they took Nicola, I hope.”
A judgment is due on Mar 19, and the family have booked flights home on Mar 21.
“In Japan we’re told the prosecution have a 99% rate of success,” said Mr Furlong. “They don’t bring cases if they don’t think they are going to win.
“We feel confident but you’re always thinking something might come in that might change it around.”
Mr Furlong said the family are heartened by the support they have received from the Irish people and the fundraising efforts which allowed them to travel to Japan for the trial.
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