THE Parole Board's move to tighten rules on the release from prison of murderers who refuse to reveal the whereabouts of their victim's remains has been welcomed by Helen's Law campaigners.

The campaign has been led by Marie McCourt in memory of her daughter Helen who was killed on February 9, 1988.

Helen, who was 22 at the time of her murder, disappeared close to her home in Billinge and despite George and Dragon pub landlord Simms being jailed for the crime – he has never confessed or said where Helen’s body is.

Her mum Marie, 74, has been campaigning for a new law to be adopted, which would mean convicted murders who refuse to reveal the whereabouts of their victims’ bodies would remain behind bars.

St Helens North MP Conor McGinn has welcomed confirmation by the Parole Board, which comes after Justice Minister Rory Stewart confirmed to the House of Commons that the Government is actively considering two new options relating to the introduction of Helen’s Law.

In a letter to Mr McGinn, the Parole Board’s chief executive Martin Jones praised the “very successful” Helen’s Law campaign and the “resilience and courage” that Marie has shown in the face of “pain and heartbreak”.

He also acknowledged that Marie felt “upset and anxious” on hearing that Simms would soon be released under licence and allowed to start escorted visits shortly.

The fact that Simms could soon be allowed to leave prison without disclosing the location of Helen’s remains has underlined the urgent need for the “no body, no parole” rule to take effect.

However, in a boost for the Helen’s Law campaign, Mr Jones added that the guidance in Parole Board’s Members Handbook had been changed as a direct result of the Helen’s Law campaign.

He said: “As made clear in that guidance the Board should always have regard to the failure to disclose the location of a body.”

The guidelines mean that parole hearings can take account of “wilful and deliberate withholding of information about the whereabouts of the victim’s body”.

However, Mr Jones added that it would be unlawful for the Parole Board to deny a prisoner’s release on that basis alone.

Mr McGinn welcomes the change to the guidelines, but renewed his call on the government to do more to give peace to Marie more than three decades since her daughter’s murder.

He said: “I welcome the change to the guidelines so that Parole Boards can take account of murderers who refuse to reveal the whereabouts of their victim’s remains.

“It is a step in the right direction, but we need urgent action from the government so Marie and other grieving relatives who are enduring a similar torment can find peace by giving their loved ones a proper funeral.

“I will continue to press the government and keep working with Marie to get Helen’s Law on to the statute book.”

Helen’s Law has been introduced abroad, including in Australia where five states have adopted the ‘no body, no parole’ rule.

In order to get Helen’s Law onto the statute book in England, the government needs to change the law in Parliament.