Home / Crime and Justice / 37-Year Cold Case: German Backpackers Inquest Proceeds
37-Year Cold Case: German Backpackers Inquest Proceeds
10 Dec, 2025
Summary
- German backpacker Inga Maria Hauser murdered in Co Antrim in 1988.
- Inquest into the 1988 unsolved murder of Inga Maria Hauser to proceed.
- Family hopes inquest will provide answers after 37 years of waiting.
The family of Inga Maria Hauser, a German backpacker murdered in Co Antrim in 1988, has expressed considerable hope that an ongoing inquest will finally bring them answers. The 18-year-old's body was discovered in Ballypatrick Forest, 14 days after she was last seen arriving on a ferry from Scotland. Her death remains one of Northern Ireland's most prominent unsolved murders.
Proceedings have faced delays due to jurisdictional issues, which have now been resolved. The coroner's service has collated a significant body of material for examination, and efforts are underway to gather any relevant information from media outlets, including a BBC documentary made about the case. A sister of Ms Hauser has been observing the hearings remotely.
Phoenix Law, representing the family, stated that the review marks a critical step forward after 37 years. They urge the Police Service of Northern Ireland to urgently serve their files so preparations can begin. The family emphasizes the need for swift action to establish facts and potentially revisit any chance of prosecution.
