THE DEATH of her parents hit her hard and she suddenly moved away leaving her family desperate to know where she was.

They had always hoped she would one day walk back into their lives, reunited with those that loved her.

But tragically, the sickening attack by McBride has robbed them of that emotional reunion, leaving Majella's family heartbroken.

In a statement read out to the court from Majella's sister, the hearing was told how Majella was the youngest of three siblings who grew up all over the country.

They described her as a "warm, loving and protective" sister who was bright and achieved good grades in school.

Before moving to Southampton she worked for the coal board and the NHS and was a loving mother who "doted" on her son, adorning her flat with his pictures.

But the death of her mother in 1996 and then her father two years later hit her hard and she moved away without telling anybody.

Extensive enquiries by her family eventually resulted with police confirming she was alive but were unable to tell her family where she was.

He sister added: "Maj was never forgotten by any of her family and she was spoken of often. We all wished she was okay and well and that one day she would walk through the door.

"We all knew that Maj’s life could not have been an easy one and so we all hoped that one day she would return but now that hope has been shattered by the news of her death and especially in such an horrendous way.

"Her death has had a profound effect on the whole of her family, our brother is not the same person he was and asks himself could he have done more to help his sister, even though he could never have predicted what was going to happen to Maj.

"I try to move forward by trying to concentrate on the happier times with Maj but it is so hard as the reality is I now know she is never going to return home which is what we had always hoped for."