A New South Wales politician has publicly named a man who allegedly confessed to the abduction and murder of three-year-old Cheryl Grimmer in 1970. The revelation came during a parliamentary session where MP Jeremy Buckingham used parliamentary privilege to disclose the suspect's identity, known by the pseudonym "Mercury." This disclosure has reignited interest in a case that has haunted the Grimmer family for over five decades.

Cheryl Grimmer disappeared from Fairy Meadow Beach, south of Sydney, while enjoying a day out with her mother and three brothers. Her family expressed deep emotional pain during the announcement, stating that the alleged killer could have avoided public scrutiny if he had provided answers about the crime. The man, now in his 60s, has lived under the alias since his murder trial fell apart in 2019.

Buckingham detailed a signed confession from 1971, in which the then-17-year-old Mercury described the events surrounding Cheryl's abduction. "I was down the beach that day and I saw a man drive past me in a car with a little girl," he reportedly told police. He recounted how he had to cover Cheryl's mouth to prevent her from screaming and ultimately strangled her when she would not be quiet. He then concealed her body with bushes and leaves.

The confession, however, was deemed inadmissible by a NSW Supreme Court judge in 2019, leading to the collapse of the case against Mercury. The court ruled that the confession could not be used in court because Mercury was a minor at the time of the alleged crime and did not have appropriate adult supervision during the police interview. As a result, the Director of Public Prosecutions chose not to appeal the ruling, and the murder charge was withdrawn due to insufficient evidence.

Cheryl's family has been vocal about their desire for justice. They issued a statement expressing their hope that by revealing Mercury's identity, new evidence might emerge from the public. "We hope that by speaking out today, members of the public who may hold information will come forward so that Mercury can be questioned in a court of law and justice for Cheryl can finally be served," they stated.

Buckingham, visibly emotional during his address, emphasized the need for a renewed investigation into Cheryl's case. He criticized the failures of the criminal justice system, stating, "The criminal justice system failed her 50 years ago and it failed her more recently with the inadmissibility of the confession."

Cheryl's disappearance has been the subject of multiple police investigations and a coronial inquest, which concluded that she likely died. In 2020, on the 50th anniversary of her disappearance, NSW Police announced a $1 million reward for information leading to a resolution of the case. A recent search in Wollongong yielded animal bones, but no new leads regarding Cheryl's fate have emerged.

The Grimmer family continues to seek closure and justice for Cheryl, hoping that the renewed attention on the case will lead to new developments. Buckingham's actions in parliament have sparked calls for a re-investigation, as the community grapples with the unresolved tragedy of Cheryl Grimmer's disappearance.