In parliament on Thursday, Jeremy Buckingham read out Mercury’s real name – suppressed because he was a minor at the time – and his teenage confession, calling for a new investigation into Cheryl’s murder.
“The family of Cheryl Grimmer have been through so much anguish over such a long period of time,” he said.
“[Mercury] is a free man living with his identity suppressed from his neighbours and no one has been punished for Cheryl Grimmer’s abduction and murder.”
Cheryl’s family – some of whom were in the public gallery on Thursday as Mercury was named – has been pushing for a fresh inquiry since the trial fell over six years ago. Last week they gave Mercury an ultimatum, urging him to explain to the family how he knew information contained in his confession or be publicly identified.
“He has been given the opportunity to declare his innocence or guilt, yet he has chosen to remain silent,” Linda Grimmer, wife of Cheryl’s brother Paul, told reporters after the name was revealed in parliament.
She said the family was not “seeking to harm Mercury or his family” with this move.
“What we want is now the truth. We hope that by speaking out today, members of the public who may hold information will come forward so that Mercury can be questioned in a court of law and justice for Cheryl can finally be served.”
Cheryl was last seen running into a changing room block on 12 January 1970, after a day at the beach with her family, who had only recently migrated to Australia from Bristol as so-called Ten Pound Poms.
