A Scottish family, who tragically lost their mother under suspicious circumstances in Crete 16 years ago, is now preparing to confront the man accused of her murder in court.
Jean Hanlon vanished after relocating to the picturesque island of Crete, only for her body to be found in Heraklion harbour back in 2009.
Initially, authorities deemed her death accidental, but Jean’s three sons have consistently doubted this conclusion, dedicating years to seeking justice. They even enlisted the help of a private investigator to bolster their efforts.
Recently, it was revealed that a 54-year-old man is set to stand trial for her murder, marking a pivotal moment in this long-standing case.
This development signifies a significant breakthrough for Jean’s family, originally from Dumfries, who have persistently campaigned, prompting Greek officials to reopen the investigation four times since her body was discovered.
Michael Porter, one of Jean’s sons, expressed that the news felt “absolutely amazing” after enduring years of heartache and setbacks.
He said: ‘It’s really reassuring. We’re feeling extremely happy and positive that, finally, it looks like we’re going to get our mum the justice she deserves. It’s absolutely amazing, you can’t put it into words.
‘It’s hard to get too excited when you get picked up so many times over the past 16 years and then knocked back. The last year has definitely been the most impressive for us since bringing in the private investigator.’
Jean Hanlon disappeared after moving to the holiday island of Crete
Jean Hanlon’s remains were recovered from Heraklion harbour in 2009
The man is understood to have been charged in January, but the case later appeared to collapse.
Appeal judges in Heraklion overturned that decision in August and ruled that he must stand trial for murder.
Mr Porter said the family’s 28-page dossier of evidence – compiled by private investigator Haris Veramon – was instrumental in moving the case forward.
He said: ‘It’s incredible that this guy has been there from day one. Had the authorities just done a proper investigation from the beginning, then we would’ve saved a lot of years of heartbreak and financial worry and stress and heartbreak.’
They have now been told the trial is likely to begin within the next six to eight months, bringing them closer than ever to closure after more than a decade of heartbreak.
Mr Porter said: ‘This is always going to be there, it’s never going to leave us, even when we get justice.
‘It’s only going to hopefully allow us to finally grieve and let her rest knowing that someone paid for it and that she got the respect and justice in the end that she deserves.’
Mrs Hanlon, a former hospital secretary, had moved to the beach town of Kato, Gouves to start a new life working in tourism and hospitality.
Jean Hanlon’s sons Robert, David and Michael haven’t stopped searching for answers
She went missing in March 2009 during a night out after telling friends she was meeting a man at a cafe.
But she later sent a text message saying simply: ‘Help’. Four days later, her body was found in the sea at Heraklion.
Police initially insisted she had drowned accidentally, but at the demands of her distraught family, a second post-mortem examination was carried out which showed she suffered a broken neck and ribs, a punctured lung and facial injuries, and was probably dead before she entered the water.
Mr Porter said information written in his mother’s diary had been vital to uncovering the truth.
He said: ‘Mum’s diary gave us the best clues ever because you can’t change the words of the dead.
‘One, two weeks before her death, she wrote how many times this guy was turning up at her house uninvited, turning up at the bottom of the street, basically stalking her because she had refused him.
‘The guy wasn’t her boyfriend, he was someone that she met occasionally. It wasn’t love, it was someone she dated, an acquaintance.’
Although previously told to ‘just stop now and live your life’, he and his brother will travel to Greece to witness the proceedings.
He added: ‘When you see your mum the way you saw her, that never leaves your mind. To think of what she must have gone through that night, it haunts you for life, and it changes you in a way that you just can’t describe.
‘She was our mum, and the bottom line is you’d do anything for your mum or anybody you love.’
