Louisa Dunne, murdered in 1967, was the victim of what is likely the UK's longest cold case solved after DNA testing. Her granddaughter, Mary Dainton, expressed deep grief over the continuing impact of Louisa's death on their family. Dainton shared that Louisa's death left a lasting mark on her mother, causing lifelong anxiety. She recalled limited interactions with Louisa and mentioned the family's historical engagement in social and political matters. The stigma surrounding her grandmother's murder made it difficult for her to discuss it openly for years.
The death of my grandmother, Louisa Dunne, has had a far-reaching impact throughout my family. I was just 20 years old when my grandmother died and I'm now almost the same age as she was when she was killed.
Louisa's brutal death had a big impact on my mother and her wider family. I don't think my mother ever recovered from it. The anxiety clouded the rest of her life.
My grandfather, Edwin Parker, was a member of the early Labour Party and he loved my grandmother dearly. Sadly, he died in 1945 and the social and political elements of my grandmother's life went with him.
When people found out about the murder, including friends, they withdrew - there is a stigma attached to rape and murder in my experience, so I have rarely talked to anyone about this until now.
Collection
[
|
...
]