A known suspect involved in the disappearance of a young British girl on an Australian beach over five decades ago has been officially identified for the first time. The individual, previously only referred to as ‘Mercury,’ is believed to have been responsible for the abduction and presumed murder of three-year-old Cheryl Grimmer in 1970. Although he confessed to the crime as a teenager, the confession was not utilized in legal proceedings.

During a session in the Australian parliament, Jeremy Buckingham disclosed ‘Mercury’s’ actual name, still shielded due to his status as a minor at the time of the incident, along with details of his confession, advocating for a renewed investigation into Cheryl’s tragic fate.

Expressing empathy for Cheryl Grimmer’s family, Buckingham stated, “The family has endured immense suffering for an extensive period.” He highlighted the fact that ‘Mercury’ is currently living freely under a concealed identity, while no one has faced consequences for Cheryl’s abduction and murder.

Cheryl’s relatives, including her parents Carole and Vince, who had recently relocated from Bristol to Australia, have been advocating for a reinvestigation since the previous trial collapsed six years ago. The family, present in the public gallery when ‘Mercury’ was named, issued an ultimatum to him last week, urging him to either clarify how he possessed information from his confession or face public exposure.

Linda Grimmer, the wife of Cheryl’s brother Paul, emphasized that the family’s goal is to uncover the truth and prompt potential witnesses to come forward, enabling ‘Mercury’ to be interrogated in court and deliver justice for Cheryl.

‘Mercury’ was arrested in 2017 after detectives unearthed a confession made by a teenage boy a year following Cheryl’s disappearance. However, the confession was deemed inadmissible in court due to the lack of adult supervision during the interview. Media outlets, including the Mirror, have refrained from revealing the suspect’s identity.

Cheryl vanished after leaving Fairy Meadow Beach in Wollongong in January 1970, initiating one of Australia’s enduring missing children cases. The Mirror, among other news sources, covered the ongoing investigations and commemorated Cheryl’s disappearance by unveiling a memorial plaque at the beach five years ago.