Murder hunt launched after girl's body found

A murder inquiry was launched tonight after a teenage girl’s body was discovered dumped in a quarry near Belfast.

The victim, believed to be aged 16, was found on a desolate stretch of land half a mile from the Glenside Road, Dunmurry.

Some clothing had been removed from the girl, who was from the nearby Lenadoon Estate, security sources revealed.

Detectives probing the killing were attempting to establish whether any sex attack was involved.

One source said: “We don’t know at this stage whether there was a sexual assault or not, but there is no doubt we are dealing with the murder of a young female.”

As the local parish priest comforted the victim’s distraught family, forensic experts were trawling through the area where her body was found. They are expected to spend up to four days at the scene looking for clues that could lead to the killer.

Police were called in when the girl’s parents reported her missing following a night out.

“She went out last night socialising in the area and never came home,” one source said.

“Her body was half naked, and rumours in the area about what happened to her are running rife.”