Cold-blooded killer, 36, who murdered 16-year-old girl and dumped her body in woodland back nearly 20 years ago dies in car crash, inquest told – as her family reveal their ‘shock and disbelief’ over his death

A killer who murdered a teenage girl and dumped her body in woodland nearly 20 years ago has died in a car crash, an inquest was told. 

Thomas Purcell, 36, was convicted of murdering 16-year-old Megan McAlorum in 2006, after she suffered 54 fractures to her skull in the attack after Purcell gave her a lift from a takeaway shop in Belfast.

Purcell served his time and was released from prison in 2021 before returning to live in Oxford.

Oxfordshire coroner Darren Salter heard Purcell was driving a car on March 4 in Burford, between Oxford and Cheltenham, when his vehicle was involved in a collision with a van. 

Purcell suffered catastrophic head injuries in the impact. The driver of the van was also badly injured but is recovering.

Thomas Purcell (pictured) was convicted of murdering 16-year-old Megan McAlorum in 2006

Megan McAlorum, 16, (pictured) suffered 54 fractures to her skull in the attack

The inquest opening in Oxford heard that Purcell, who was unemployed at the time of his death, died from a traumatic brain injury.

The killer, of Furlong Close, Oxford, was identified to hospital staff by his brother Philip.

Purcell, who was 16-years-old at the time of the murder, was sentenced for 15 years imprisonment. He was released from prison in 2021.

Miss McAlorum was murdered by Purcell on Easter Sunday 2004 after he offered her a lift while she was walking home from a takeaway.

Her body was later found in a wooded area on the outskirts of west Belfast, with injuries including 54 fractures to her skull.

Miss McAlorum’s sister Lynne said she thought of her sibling and her mother on hearing the death of Purcell. 

Speaking to the Andersonstown News, Lynne said: ‘We got a call yesterday morning to confirm that it was him who died.’

She added: ‘The only comfort it brings is that he will never be able to do what he did to Megan ever again.

‘Megan’s 20th anniversary is coming up here in April. When I heard the news, I just thought of Megan and my mummy Margaret as well, who campaigned so hard for victims.’

Oxfordshire coroner Darren Salter heard Purcell was driving a car on March 4 in Burford, between Oxford and Cheltenham, when his vehicle was involved in a collision with a van (pictured)

Miss McAlorum was murdered by Purcell on Easter Sunday 2004 after he offered her a lift while she was walking home from a takeaway

The murder victim’s sister Lynne (pictured) spoke of the moment her sibling ‘vanished off face of the earth’ before her 16-year-old killer staged a cynical plot to ‘discover’ the body

In 2021 Lynne spoke of the moment here sister ‘vanished off the face of the earth’ before her killer staged a cynical plot to ‘discover the body’. 

In an episode of Britain’s Deadliest Kids, Lynne said: ‘There were two police officers, and my Mum was sat there. They just said, ”it’s your daughter”. 

‘That was very hard. It was unbelievable, seeing my Mum and Dad. My family was just never the same afterwards.’

Growing up in Belfast, Miss McAlorum was the second youngest of seven siblings. As she got older, she and her friends spent their free time hanging out in West Belfast, and it was here that she would meet her killer, Purcell. 

After killing his victim, Purcell made his way to the Royal Victoria Hospital where he pretended to have chest pains to give himself an alibi. 

He is understood to have been laughing with a doctor before stealing her mobile phone which he tried to sell to a relative.  

Purcell had previous convictions dating back to 2000 when he made a series of appearances at Oxford Youth Court.

A full inquest will take place in September.