Home Secretary Priti Patel pressured to meet Collette's family by outgoing Corby Council

A cross-party group of councillors have urged Home Secretary Priti Patel to meet the family of Collette Gallacher to hear their concerns over why her killer is not on the sex offenders register (SOR).

In one of their final acts as an authority before they are disbanded, Corby Council last night (Tuesday, March 23) resolved to write to the Mrs Patel to ask her to hold a meeting with Claire and Lauren Holmes, who have been campaigning over the release of their sister's killed, Adam Stein.

Collette was just six when she was callously raped and murdered 35 years ago in Corby by monster Adam Stein, who was released from prison this month. But because he committed the crime before 1997, he is not on the SOR. The family's campaign, backed by this newspaper, has been supported by two former Home Secretaries.

Claire and Lauren have asked for a meeting with Ms Patel but she has so far ignored their attempts to speak to her.

At last night's final full council meeting, Cllr Paul Beattie asked leader Cllr Tom Beattie: "The murder of Collette Gallacher was a horrific event that continues to haunt this town.

"It's now revealed the man convicted of Collette's murder has been released on parole but does not need to be included on the sex offenders register due to a technicality in the law as his crime was committed pre-1997.

"The family of Collette have asked the Home Secretary to meet with them.

"Does the leader of the council support this request and also call for the Home Secretary to meet with Collette's family so their concerns can be addressed?"

Cllr Tom Beattie said: "Many elected members will recall the terrible events that you refer to and indeed many of us will have our own personal connections to the Gallacher family including myself. Recent developments in this case have reawakened the terrible memories for the family of Collette.

"I do indeed support the family's call for a meeting with the Home Secretary so she can listen to their concerns.

"I am happy to write to the Home Secretary to that end adding our voice to what I believe is their reasonable request.

"I have also spoken to the leader of the opposition group Cllr Kevin Watt and we have agreed that any letter should be a joint one signed by both of us on behalf of all the elected members of Corby Borough Council."

Claire and Lauren Holmes have also this week written for a second time to Justice Secretary Robert Buckland outlining a serious of fourteen serious concerns over Stein's release and his supervision