Sharon McGonigle
Grace Moore and Sharon McGonigle
Grace Moore and her daughter Lori
The best pal of a woman brutally raped and stabbed to death seven years ago has pleaded with the authorities to take knife crime more seriously.
Sharon McGonigle says she’s still traumatised by what happened to her best friend Grace Moore, whose seven year anniversary is tomorrow.
“I still can’t believe what happened and every time I see something in the news about a stabbing it brings it all back,” says the 44-year-old Belfast woman.
“The police and the courts need to do more about people caught carrying knives. They seem to be everywhere.
“People seem to get into a fight and then grab the nearest weapon and think nothing of plunging it into someone.”
Grace, the mother of former Miss Northern Ireland Lori Moore, was the victim of a savage attack from twisted Nigerian immigrant Kristoff Alauya, then aged 23.
Alauya was jailed in 2009 for the brutal murder of the 38-year-old which took place on November 18 ,2006.
The young mum was stabbed, strangled and raped in her Suffolk home in Belfast by Alauya after she invited him back after meeting him in a city centre night spot.
At the time of the murder Alauya (right) was on the run from the authorities south of the border where he had been due to be sentenced for two violent robberies.
“Alauya should never have been free to do what he did to Grace,” said a tearful Sharon McGonigle.
“That has made it even harder. He should have been put in jail after he was found guilty of those robberies. If they had done that Grace would be alive today.
“That’s the hardest part for me to accept – what happened was completely avoidable.
“Grace was an extremely bubbly and glamorous woman. She would have given you her last penny.”
Killer Kristoff Alauya
Sharon says she is launching her campaign in memory of a special friend.
“We were friends for 19 years. I was only 18 when we met at a club in Bangor and we just clicked. We got on so well and she was the best friend you could ever wish for.
“I heard what happened to her when I was sitting watching TV. I flicked over to the BBC news and there it was. I was in a state of shock.
“Her daughter Lori has done her so proud.”
It’s understood Alauya met Grace Moore at a Pink concert and the pair then went to a Belfast nightclub.
But he was caught after he brazenly returned to the same club the night after he killed Grace and was recognised on CCTV.
Despite getting a 22 year prison sentence Alauya made jail boasts that he would be free soon to attack his next victim.
At the time of his sentencing Alauya refused to admit his guilt forcing Grace’s devastated family to listen to the gory details of the trial.
Two weeks ago we revealed Alauya was beaten up inside Maghaberry Prison by inmates who teamed up together. He was ambushed by a group of 15 prisoners.