A reward of up to £20,000 is being offered through the independent charity Crimestoppers UK by the husband of census worker Joanne Mathers, who was shot dead 31 years ago, for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for her murder. [13 April 2012]

Mrs Mathers was 29-years-old when she was gunned down on the doorstep of a house in Gobnascale, Londonderry, while out collecting census forms.

The mother of one had been married seven years to her husband Lowry Mathers, before she was murdered on 7 April 1981.

Joanne’s killer has never been traced, and with this week being the 31^st anniversary since her death, Mr Mathers is determined to see the perpetrator(s) brought to justice.

Mr Mathers said: “I want justice for Joanne, even after all these years. I hope the reward will encourage someone with information to come forward and tell Crimestoppers what they know.”

The reward is being offered through the independent charity Crimestoppers UK and is accessible to any individual who passes on information anonymously that leads to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for Joanne’s murder.

'Reaching out'

Mrs Mathers’ son Shane, who was just two-years-old at the time of her murder, said: “I never really knew my mother because she was taken away from me far too early. The person(s) who killed her will never know the pain my dad and I have gone through over the last 31 years, which is why this reward is being put up.

“While our family appreciates that nothing will bring my mum back, we want those responsible for her murder to be found and brought to justice. I am reaching out to anyone who might have information to contact Crimestoppers anonymously, because it might be key in helping to catch those who committed this crime.”

A Crimestoppers spokesperson said: “Crimestoppers wants to appeal to the public for any information they might have on this murder, no matter how small or insignificant they think it might be.

“In 24 years we have never revealed the identity of anyone who has contacted the charity, and we hope this will be an incentive for people to contact us anonymously and give us the information they have.”

If you have any information on this crime then please contact the independent charity Crimestoppers UK anonymously on 0800 555 111 or through our secure online form* at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.

*Information through our online form will not qualify for a reward.

ENDS

For more information on Crimestoppers UK please contact Media Officer Kieran Theivam on 0208 835 3727 or email Kieran.theivam@crimestoppers-uk.org.

NOTES TO EDITORS

• The reward of up to £20k is being offered through the independent crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers UK, which covers England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland.
• Around 23 people are arrested and charged every day as a result of information given to Crimestoppers.
• Since Crimestoppers began in 1988, it has received over a million actionable calls, resulting in over 113,000 arrests and charges. Over £122 million worth of goods has been recovered and over £223 million worth of drugs has been seized.
• In 2005, Crimestoppers launched the UK’s Most Wanted on its website which allows the public to view images of criminals and pass on vital information about their whereabouts. It has been highly successful with over 1,000 arrests to date.
• Crimestoppers UK was founded by Lord Ashcroft, KCMG, Chairman of Trustees. In 1988, he launched Crimestoppers in the Metropolitan Police area. Crimestoppers’ ‘call to action’ is built on a three-way partnership between the business community, the police and the media.