Family's next step in Dunlop parole torment

THE family of murdered Julie Hogg have met the justice secretary as they prepare for another parole ordeal.

- By POPPY KENNEDY

THE family of murdered Julie Hogg have met the justice secretary as they prepare for another parole ordeal.

Previously, The Gazette reported how double jeopardy killer Billy Dunlop is set to face another parole review. The news comes just months after a previous bid to move to open prison conditions was blocked by former Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood.

Last month, his victim’s mother and son, Ann Ming and Kevin Hogg, met the new Secretary of State for Justice, and Deputy Prime Minister, David Lammy, to discuss their concerns over the parole process.

They also met Shadow Justice Minister Kieran Mullan and representatives from the Parole Board.

The family are campaigning for greater transparency in the process with powers put into the parole board’s hands to “say no” when ministers have previously overruled the panel's decision.

Following the meetings, Kevin told The Gazette: “The meetings were very productive... The [Parole Board] chief operating officer has asked me to sit around a table with Victims’ Commissioner Claire Waxman and themselves to see how best we can push forward with making/ suggesting changes to the Parole Board along with showing greater transparency to families and the wider public on the workings of how the parole system works.

“(Kieran Mullan] highlighted that cases like Dunlop's should be assessed on applications for parole on individual merit and not on a tested threshold. He mentioned that grading an offender is the way forward and that he is fully committed to victims’ of crime.

“The meeting with David Lammy was very promising. He understands that as a family we were only given the Secretary of State’s decision on April 28 this year and we are back in the situation within six months.