Sonia Blount’s grief-stricken family warns social media users to beware fake profiles

The family of Sonia Blount has urged social media users to be cautious and aware online, saying Ms Blount had paid for an error of judgement with her life.

Sonia Blount’s grief-stricken family warns social media users to beware fake profiles

The family of Sonia Blount has urged social media users to be cautious and aware online, saying Ms Blount had paid for an error of judgement with her life.

The warning followed the jailing for life of Eric Locke, who murdered her after using a fake Facebook profile to lure her to a Dublin hotel room.

Family friend Liz Gaffney spoke on behalf of the family outside court following Locke’s sentencing. She thanked the legal team for its hard work, the gardaí for their diligence and meticulous work, Ms Blount’s friends and her colleagues at Henkel Locktite for all their support.

“A special word of warning to everybody using social media sites. We urge you to please be cautious and be aware,” she said. “It is so easy to set up false profiles. Sonia made an error of judgement and paid for this with her life.”

She thanked Justice Michael Moriarty and the jury for its "unanimous, timely decision and for seeing her murderer for the lying, manipulative person he is".

“For this, our family is so grateful,” she said.

She noted however, that the verdict would never bring Ms Blount back.

Sonia Blount’s family and friends, including her mother Patricia (second from right, red cardigan) and Sonia’s sister Claire Reddin (centre, in green) leave the Central Criminal Court in Dublin after Eric Locke was given a mandatory life sentence. Picture: Collins Courts
Sonia Blount’s family and friends, including her mother Patricia (second from right, red cardigan) and Sonia’s sister Claire Reddin (centre, in green) leave the Central Criminal Court in Dublin after Eric Locke was given a mandatory life sentence. Picture: Collins Courts

“Sonia was an innocent, beautiful, kind, caring person and mother, who is sadly missed by all of us who knew her and loved her,” she said.

Detective Superintendent Brian Sutton spoke on behalf of An Garda Siochana.

“Our thoughts and our prayers are with the family of Sonia Blount today,” he said. “It was a difficult investigation, and I hope the outcome of the court case has brought some bit of closure in relation to the tragic circumstance and event that they’ve been through.”

He said the force was pleased with the investigation.

“A lot of work went into it,” he said.

He thanked the witnesses, who came forward, the staff in the Plaza Hotel, and the family who he said had given a good background and assisted them with the result.

Read:

Read More:
Sonia Blount’s family devastated by murder: ‘We had to tell him your Mammy is an angel now’

more courts articles

Stephen Bear ordered to pay back profits from sharing private sex tape Stephen Bear ordered to pay back profits from sharing private sex tape
Gary Glitter victim seeking six-figure sum in damages, court told Gary Glitter victim seeking six-figure sum in damages, court told
Man (25) in court charged with murdering his father and attempted murder of mother Man (25) in court charged with murdering his father and attempted murder of mother

More in this section

DUP Hold Crunch Meeting To Decide On Return To Stormont Jeffrey Donaldson steps down as DUP leader amid ‘historical’ sex offence charges
Berlin UKB Hospital Is Among Germany's Most Modern Nearly 10,000 people left waiting on trolleys across country in March
Spring weather Mar 28th 2024 Here's what to expect from weather and travel this Easter weekend
War_map
Cookie Policy Privacy Policy Brand Safety FAQ Help Contact Us Terms and Conditions

© Examiner Echo Group Limited