"The families can gain some relief from the fact that the criminal process is now over. They don't feel that any sentence is sufficient to make up for the loss of their loved ones. They have many questions still to be answered surrounding the circumstances of George and Samantha's death's and their lives whilst in care.' 'The families welcome the announcement by the Chief Minister Mr Corkhill that he intends to hold a Public Inquiry into the issues surrounding their children's deaths. They hope that the Inquiry will bring about necessary change to ensure that no other family will have to go through the traumatic events that these families have had to endure.' 'These murders have shocked the entire community. It is important that these matters, which are of wide public importance, will be examined independently and where appropriate in public.' 'The Inquiry must effectively examine not only the circumstances of George Green and Samantha Barton's deaths but also the care system in the Isle of Man as a whole. Questions have been raised concerning the input provided to children in care by social services and other state bodies and the environment in which these children are living.' 'We hope that the Inquiry will be constituted as soon as is reasonably possible and will result in a set of recommended changes so that vulnerable children get the help and protection they need in order to minimise the risk of these tragic events reoccurring in the future.' The Green family have added: 'The loss of George is still hard to believe. We hope that lessons will be learnt after his death and concerns about the care system in the Isle of Man will be addressed at a Public Inquiry."
Notes to Editor: All media enquiries should be directed to the media management department at Alexander Harris in the first instance on 0161 925 5555
Brief Background Under the care of social services George Green attended a school in England. He had returned to the Isle of Man for Christmas. Samantha Barton had been in voluntary care from the age of 10. She lived at Leece Lodge in semi-independent accommodation ran by a private company on behalf of Social Services. Both teenagers aged 16 were strangled on the same night. Samantha's body was found inside her flat, George's body was found a few hundred yards away on a footpath. Peter Newby was arrested a few weeks after George and Samantha's bodies were found and pleaded Not Guilty to their murder.
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