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New book on Melissa Mahon's death published

A new book on the death of Melissa Mahon and the trial of her killer, Ronnie Dunbar, aka Ronald McManus was published yesterday. The book, The Killing of Melissa Mahon (Gill & Macmillan - €12.99) by Bronagh Murphy, according to a Sunday newspaper (Sunday World) who is serialising the book, tells for the first time the full story of Melissa's final days and the lost opportunities to save her from a gruesome death.

Described as a powerful documentary on the young troubled teenager's life it tells of a vulnerable 14 year-old, estranged from her family, who was taken advantage of by a 44 year-old perverted fitness fanatic.

Her last two months were spent in and out of care as social workers struggled, but failed, to save her from the grasp and influence of a child sex killer.

The book also reveals how three years after Melissa's death the Health Service Executive (HSE) still cannot say when it's report it's handling of the case will be finished. The book also exposes the teenager's mother as shameless and how she was described as 'disingenuous' by the trial judge when she tried to make a victim impact statement.

The mother, Mary Mahon had refused to cooperate with Sligo gardai who had launched a search for the 14 year-old when she went missing. She also refused to attend the funeral in St.Annes Church, Cranmore instead preferring to spend the day drinking in the Riverside Bar, Cranmore.

Dunbar was found guilty of manslaughter, but not of murder, and was sentenced to life in penal service. Justice White had commented at the trial that Dunbar had taken the young pregnant girl’s life in a calculated manner and had disposed of her body in a manner not befitting an animal.

The book will be available in Sligo in Easons, The Book Nest and other bookshops over the coming days.