NORA Quoirin could never have scaled a fence before she disappeared due to her physical disabilities, her teacher has said. Michael Reeves told the inquest to the 15-year-old’s death that she was physically frail and would have found walking even over short distances difficult. Nora went missing from her family’s cottage a day after they […]
NORA Quoirin could never have scaled a fence before she disappeared due to her physical disabilities, her teacher has said.
Michael Reeves told the inquest to the 15-year-old’s death that she was physically frail and would have found walking even over short distances difficult.
Nora went missing from her family’s cottage a day after they arrived for a holiday at the Duson eco-resort in Malaysia on August 4 last year.
Following a huge search operation, her naked body was found on August 13 close to a stream about 1.6 miles away from the resort.
Her family have has strongly disputed police claims that Nora – who had a brain development disorder – left the cottage alone and went to hide in the forest.
Nora attended Garratt Park School in Wandsworth for special needs children.
The school’s head teacher Michael Reeves told the inquest in Seremban, Malaysia, that she had had difficulties with “holding balance and posture” and had “weak core muscles”, the BBC reports.
“She would have found it [walking over rough terrain] exceptionally difficult even over a short distance,” he said.
“The idea of Nora climbing over fencing is unimaginable.
“She might have climbed over something a foot or so high, but no more than that.”
Mr Reeves said Nora had various physical issues and said she found it hard to take part in PE lessons.
“Physically she was one of the most vulnerable pupils in the school, because of her balance issues,” Mr Reeves said.
“Nora’s gait was quite fragile. She really didn’t have the confidence to walk off by herself.”
Last week her dad Sebastian Quoirin told the inquest that after visiting the area where his daughter was found, he is convinced she would not have been able to “cope at all”.
“I don’t believe she would have coped at all… she didn’t have a survival instinct.
“I don’t believe Nora would have had the stamina or the strength to be on the move for… days.
“Nora would not know what to eat, she would be seriously dehydrated… she would be very weak.”
Nora’s mum Meabh said her daughter had “a lot of physical challenges” and had issues with her motor skills and her balance and coordination.
The teenager had problems with her “core strength”, weighed 4st 7lb and had a mental age of “five or six”, her mum told the inquest.
