Nora Quoirin: British teenager’s death in Malaysia jungle likely ‘misadventure’, coroner says

Schoolgirl’s parents left ‘extremely disappointed’ by ruling

Undated family handout photo of Meabh Quoirin with her daughter Nora Quoirin, who was found dead after going missing during a family holiday in Malaysia in August 2019 (PA)

A Malaysian court has announced that it will not be reopening an investigation into the death of Nora Quoirin, a 15-year-old from London who was found dead in a jungle after she went missing during a family holiday in August 2019. 

Quoirin, who was born with holoprosencephaly and suffered from learning difficulties, had been found dead in a ravine near the Dusun holiday resort where her family had been staying in Seremban, roughly 40 miles south of Malaysia’s capital, Kuala Lumpur. 

Her body was found naked, sparking concerns of foul play.

On Monday, however, the Seremban Coroner’s Court said it would not reopen a probe into her death, saying she likely died of "misadventure".

The court closed the inquiry, asserting that there was insufficient evidence to suggest foul play, Reuters reported. 

"It was more probable than not that she had died of misadventure," coroner Maimoonah Aid reportedly told the court.

Speculating that a third party or foul play might have been involved, the coroner said, “would be a breach of my duty, so the inquiry is hereby closed”.

Police had previously ruled out foul play in the case, while an autopsy had found that the teenager had died from internal bleeding, which authorities said was likely caused by prolonged hunger and stress.

Her parents questioned the findings, however, asserting that their daughter had never strayed from them like that before. 

Malaysia opened an inquest into the 15-year-old’s death in August at the family’s request. 

During the proceedings, which had to be carried out online due to the coronavirus pandemic, the teenager’s mother, Meabh Quoirin, said she believed her daughter could have been abducted and accused authorities of refusing to take her concerns seriously.

Police insisted, however, that there was no evidence that the 15-year-old had been kidnapped and said their investigation had been thorough.

Speaking with The Daily Mirror, S Sakthyvell, the lawyer representing Quoirin’s family, said the teenager’s parents were “extremely disappointed with the ruling”.

“We spoke soon after the live stream ended and they were advised on options available,” he said.