Alleged Kirra-Lea McLoughlin murderer charged after seven years

Kirra-Lea McLoughlin’s mother has spent almost a decade fighting for justice for her daughter. Now, just weeks out from the anniversary of her death, she has revealed her reaction and that of her late daughter’s children to the latest breakthrough in the tragic case.

When 27-year-old Kirra-Lea McLoughlin died following an alleged brutal bashing at her home near Gympie, her children were left without a mother.

Her own mum would not only have to step in but also spend the better part of the next decade fighting for justice.

Now, Alison Kirkness has spoken about the moment she received the news that Paul Alan McDonald, Ms McLoughlin’s former de facto partner, had been charged with her murder.

She told the Gympie Times she was “deliriously happy”, as were her grandchildren.

“They were truly very, very happy,” she said.

She was not sure what the next step was but said she would need to put her faith in the justice system.

It’s the best call she’s had since that first terrible call was made after Ms McLoughlin was allegedly attacked at her Beenham Valley Rd home at Wolvi on July 17, 2014.

The following day she was found with a traumatic head injury and rushed to the Gold Coast University Hospital where she later died.

A post-mortem examination found Ms McLoughlin had 102 areas of bruising, including on her head and neck, her torso, arms and legs.

The cause of death was determined to be a lack of oxygen or blood flow to the brain.

A coroner found she had been beaten and that it was “highly probable” she had also been choked.

Alison Kirkness, mother of Kirra McLoughlin, made it her mission to give her daughter justice after she was allegedly murdered at her Wolvi home in 2014.

From that day forward, Ms Kirkness made it her mission to get justice for her daughter.

Also committed to the cause was Jamie Pultz who first became familiar with Ms McLoughlin after he was called to her home six months prior to her death.

Mr Pultz later left the police service and began a true crime podcast with a former colleague.

He got the call from Ms Kirkness to say a charge had been laid last Wednesday.

Former Gympie police officer and Beenham Valley Road creator Jamie Pultz said he was “ absolutely elated” at the news someone had finally been charged over Kirra-Lea McLoughlin’s death. Picture: Supplied

“I was sitting in bed this morning … and Allison texted me saying … ‘I’ve got a really important thing to tell you,” he said

“When she told me, I jumped out of bed.”

He said he was “absolutely elated” at the news someone had finally been charged over Ms McLaughlin’s death.

“It’s been such a long time coming … and it’s what you’ve always hoped for, it’s what you’ve always wanted for, it’s what we were working towards, and when it finally happened it was like: ‘am I dreaming?’.”

If he had the chance to talk to Ms McLoughlin now, he would want to apologise on behalf of the system for failing to protect her.

“Hopefully we can make a difference to one person out there and hopefully this tragedy won’t happen to someone again,” he said.

Ms Kirkness previously told The Courier-Mail her daughter was unrecognisable when she arrived at her hospital bedside in the hours before her death.

“I walked in and as soon as I saw her face, I just buckled,” Ms Kirkness said.

“She was beautiful and radiant, she was just so vibrant in every way and to see her lying there like that was awful.

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

Kirra-Lea McLoughlin was found with a severe head injury at her Wolvi home, east of Gympie, about 170km north of Brisbane, after an alleged assault on July 17, 2014. Picture: Google Maps

Mr McDonald, 40, was charged with the murder of his former partner on Wednesday morning.

A coronial inquest into Ms McLaughlin’s death was launched in 2020 and again in 2021.

Police said in a statement on Wednesday an Investigation Centre was established in Gympie following the inquests, which led to the arrest of the Brisbane man.

The matter was mentioned in court in Brisbane, with the case adjourned until August 8.

High profile solicitor Peter Boyce, who represented Ms Russell at the inquest, said she was “extremely pleased” by the development.

“We’re extremely happy that finally (someone has been charged), which is what Alison wanted the whole time,” he said.

“Her resolve and her drive has been amazing getting to this point.

“It’s been a long time coming and it’s restoring her faith in the process and the system.

“She’s been through a lot that she probably didn’t have to go through.”

He said the Coroners Court should be congratulated for the lengths it went to obtain expert medical evidence.

“It should really be congratulated for a, it’s efforts and b, the resourced it engaged.”

Paul McDonald was charged with murdering his de facto partner Kirra-Lea McLoughlin. Picture: Supplied

Detective Acting Superintendent Ben Fadian said the coronial inquest into Ms McLoughlin’s death had been very helpful to police.

“The coroner was able to exercise additional powers that were not available to the police,” he said.

“It was a highly valuable process for us to assist the investigation.

“As a result, investigators from the Homicide Investigation Unit joined detectives from the Gympie criminal investigation branch to relaunch an investigation centre at Gympie police station.

“A full review of the case was conducted and extensive investigation occurred.”

Det Supt Fadian said this involved speaking with new witnesses, reinterviewing old witnesses and retesting forensic exhibits.

“With an extensive body of evidence, we were able to proceed with today’s arrest and charge a 40-year-old man with the murder of Kirra-Lea,” he said.

“Kirra-Lea’s family have been advised of today’s developments.

“While this has been a long time coming, we’ve been determined to solve this matter and seek the truth.”

Asked about comments previously made by Ms McLoughlin’s mother that her daughter had been “failed” by the system and police, Det Supt Fadian said police had been in touch with Ms Russell today.

“I can advise you that today Kirra-Lea’s mother has been contacted by police and we have advised her of today’s outcome,” he said.

“I won’t go into the specifics of the conversation we had, because they are private, but she was updated as to today’s developments.”

Asked about the eight-year delay in laying charges, Det Supt Fadian said police had to “get it right”.

“With a homicide investigation, it can’t be rushed,” he said.

“We need to gather a substantial weight of evidence to prove to a high standard, beyond a reasonable doubt, in a court.

“Sometimes that will take a little bit longer. I understand people’s frustration with that but the onus is on us to get it right.”

Originally published as Alleged Kirra-Lea McLoughlin murderer charged after seven years