Kirra McLoughlin: Queensland Police acknowledge ‘painful’ toll of Gympie mum’s death on her loved ones

Police have acknowledged the “painful and distressing” toll of losing young Gympie region mum Kirra-Lea McLoughlin for her family and loved ones, but stopped short of saying sorry following a seven year wait for an inquest earlier this year.

Police have acknowledged the “painful and distressing” toll of losing young Gympie region mum Kirra-Lea McLoughlin for her family and loved ones, following a seven year wait for a coroner to find the 27-year-old’s de facto partner caused her July 2014 death.

Earlier this month it was revealed homicide detectives were reviewing the alleged killing of Kirra after a long overdue coronial inquest into her death, at which Deputy State Coroner Jane Bentley found Paul McDonald beat and choked Kirra on the night of the alleged incident which caused her death, then waited hours to call an ambulance.

Coroner says Paul McDonald caused Qld woman Kirra-Lea McLoughlin’s death

McDonald, currently serving jail time for a violent attack on another woman, has more than 70 convictions for domestic violence offences.

No one was ever charged over Kirra’s death.

Her mother Alison Russell said Kirra was almost unrecognisable when she arrived at the hospital to be by her side in her final hours.

“Nothing’s ever going to bring her back but I feel like she’d be proud of what we’ve done fighting for her,” Ms Russell said in June.

“The system failed her, the police beyond failed her, they gave the impression they really couldn’t care less and they treated her as such.”

A spokesperson for the Queensland Police Service said it would “never give up” on “getting a result” in the case.

The spokesperson defended the police investigations of Kirra’s death, calling them “thorough” and pointing out Coroner Bentley did not criticise the investigations in her inquest findings.

“We know the process is painful and distressing for Kirra-Lea’s family, as well as the community, and we are absolutely committed to getting a result,” the spokesperson said.

“Complex criminal cases, such as homicides, do take time however, we will never give up.

“We fully understand this is extremely distressing for families and loved ones of victims, and a source of frustration for them around the legal requirements of the criminal justice system.

“Following the tragic death of Ms McLoughlin, a thorough investigation was conducted by a team of highly skilled and experienced detectives.

“The medical advice provided was able to support the largely unchallenged cause of death but was not able to determine who inflicted the respective injuries.

“The initial medical advice to police was provided by appropriately qualified forensic medical experts who undertake these duties on behalf of the Government.”

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA РNewsWire Photos APRIL 13, 2021: Alison Russel, the mother of Kirra-Lea McLoughlin, at the inquest into Ms Mcloughlin̥s death in the Brisbane Magistrates Court. Kirra-Lea Mcloughlin died in 2014 from traumatic brain injuries. No one had ever been charged over her death. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

The spokesperson said multiple people were interviewed in connection with Kirra’s death, including some “on more than one occasion”, but did not say who.

“Police interviewed a large number of people as part of this investigation, including members of Kirra-Lea’s household, immediate family, friends and associates. Some people were interviewed on more than one occasion,” the spokesperson said.

“The State Coroner had no criticisms and found no failures of the police investigation. Both the medical evidence and other testimony is being considered in the current review, in which homicide detectives are assisting. Given investigations are ongoing we are unable to comment on elements specific to the investigation.

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“Generally speaking, the Coroner has additional powers and different rules of evidence to those that the criminal courts work under. Police must obtain evidence which will prove beyond a reasonable doubt, for each and every element of an offence, and satisfy high court threshold.

“Coronial courts work under a ‘balance of probabilities’ in relation to the evidence required to prove all elements of an offence.”

The spokesperson did not acknowledge a question put to the QPS about whether or not it was sorry to hear Ms Russell’s scathing assessment of the initial investigations.