BBC Photo: Cheryl Grimmer vanished from a beach in New South Wales (Australia) in 1970
Source: BBC (https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2082pqyl2o)
DST News: More than fifty years after the mysterious disappearance of British toddler Cheryl Grimmer in Australia, a politician has publicly identified a key suspect under parliamentary privilege.
On Thursday, Jeremy Buckingham, a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council, used his legal immunity in parliament to reveal the true identity of the man known by the alias “Mercury.” For legal reasons, the BBC has not published his name.
Cheryl, aged three, vanished from Fairy Meadow Beach in Wollongong in January 1970. Despite extensive searches and decades of investigation, no trace of her was ever found.
In 2017, “Mercury” was charged with her abduction and murder after police uncovered a confession allegedly made by him as a teenager in 1971. However, a judge later deemed that confession inadmissible, leading to the charges being dropped. The man has consistently maintained his innocence.
During his parliamentary speech, Buckingham read aloud the man’s real name and excerpts from his confession, urging authorities to reopen the investigation.
“The Grimmer family has suffered unimaginable anguish for over five decades,” Buckingham said. “Meanwhile, [Mercury] lives freely, shielded by anonymity, and no one has been held accountable for Cheryl’s disappearance.”
Several members of Cheryl’s family were present in the public gallery as the name was revealed. They have long called for a fresh inquiry, arguing that vital leads were ignored.
Last week, the family gave Mercury an ultimatum — to explain how he knew specific details from his confession or face being publicly named. Following Thursday’s revelation, Linda Grimmer, wife of Cheryl’s brother Paul, told reporters:
“We are not trying to harm Mercury or his family. What we want is the truth. We hope this step encourages anyone with information to come forward so justice can finally be served.”
Cheryl was last seen running into a changing block at Fairy Meadow Beach after a family outing. The Grimmers had recently migrated from Bristol to Australia as part of the postwar “Ten Pound Pom” program.
The family recently released a detailed statement criticizing what they called major failures by New South Wales authorities in handling the case. A four-year review concluded there was no new evidence to justify prosecution — despite a 2022 BBC true-crime podcast uncovering three potential witnesses.
NSW Police maintain that homicide detectives are still investigating and that a A$1 million ($649,000; £486,000) reward remains available for credible information.
Meanwhile, the family, alongside volunteers using cadaver detection dogs, has been searching a newly identified “area of interest.” Police later confirmed only animal bones were found there.
Earlier this month, the NSW parliament launched a broader inquiry into long-term missing persons cases, including Cheryl’s. The inquiry aims to evaluate investigative practices and recommend ways to deliver better outcomes for victims’ families still searching for answers.
