MARIE McCourt is due to travel to the prison where her daughter's murderer will attend a parole hearing that is resuming after delays of two years.

It has been another agonising wait for Marie whose 22-year-old daughter Helen was killed by Ian Simms in 1988. Her body has never been found despite a number of possible locations being explored over the years.

Simms has refused to reveal the location of the insurance clerk's body and maintains his innocence despite being convicted on DNA evidence.

Marie, 71, from Billinge, said that ex-George and Dragon landlord Simms was due to go before the parole board in 2013 but due to a number of delays it is only now ready to resume.

She described the process as "horrific" and will contest any prospect of his release. However, it is thought unlikely she will come face-to-face with Simms.

She told the Star: "I'm dreading it. I'm not sleeping and haven't been well but I do it because nothing is worse than that night Helen didn't come home from work. And that feeling is with me all the time. So I will make myself go through with it if it helps keep him in prison."

Even though Marie read out a victim statement to the parole board two years ago she is allowed to speak before them again because of the delay.

She added: "I always take along a photo of Helen and tell them 'that's what this hearing is about'. It makes them realise that there are victims.

"I want the public to know that killers are being released and I think it's to make room in prisons.The European Court of Human Rights says that prisoners have the right to a life. But if they are not 100 per cent certain that the prisoner is never going to hurt another person then they shouldn't be released."

Marie said that she expects to be told within two weeks if Simms has been successful in his appeal.