Dad of Claremont serial killer’s murder victim breaks his silence

Denis Glennon declined to speak on Wednesday after Edwards was sentenced in the WA Supreme Court to life behind bars with a minimum of 40 years, but he held a press conference on Thursday.

“This may come as a surprise, but I ask that you include in your thoughts and prayers not only the victims of these horrendous crimes, but also include the parents of the convicted person,” Mr Glennon said.

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“They too are in their own crucible of suffering.”

Edwards was found guilty of murdering childcare worker Jane Rimmer, 23, in 1996 and solicitor Ciara Glennon, 27, in 1997, but was acquitted of killing secretary Sarah Spiers, 18, in 1996.

He also pleaded guilty to twice raping a 17-year-old girl he abducted and dragged through Karrakatta Cemetery in 1995, and indecently assaulting an 18-year-old woman sleeping at her Huntingdale home in 1988.

Mr Glennon said the sentencing ended “one of the darkest chapters” in WA history.

He said he and his family concurred with the public sentiment that Edwards should never walk free.

The grieving father also said justice had been delivered as best as it could and they were at peace with the circumstances.

“We will continue to try to walk with as much dignity as we can muster through this nightmare we’ve been catapulted into,” he said.

“We believe the sentence is appropriate and just, and we’re especially pleased that the person convicted is never going to hurt or kill another woman.”

Mr Glennon said he would not stay close to the case if there was an appeal because the collateral damage to personal health and family life was too severe.

He also paid tribute to the “power” of the two “extraordinarily courageous” surviving victims, who read out their victim impact statements in court.

“They will be forever remembered. We witnessed two very brave ladies,” he said.

Mr Glennon also went through a series of what he called “frequently asked questions” by the media.

He said his family did not have much contact with the Spiers and Rimmer families over the years, but they spent more time together during the trial, and also got to know the families of the surviving victims.

“I believe that every member of each of the families dealt in their own way with the devastation caused by the murders,” he said.

Mr Glennon said the case had been an “exhausting journey” for his family and they did not plan to participate in any books or interviews.

“We now wish to cease reopening and re-reading that chapter in our lives, and we do not wish to spend further time expressing our views on a perverse premeditative predator, who with ruthless determination sought out and abducted young women to rape and kill simply for his own gratification,” he said.

“We don’t want to spend any more time on that as a family.

“Instead, we wish to use the time to remember Ciara in a quiet space, and to draw strength from her courage and appreciate the gift of her short life.”

Mr Glennon also rejected the idea of accepting money for an interview, describing it as offensive.

“It is unnatural for a parent to bury a child,” he said.

“To have Ciara killed in the prime of her life was and is our worst nightmare, and the suffering is never ending. It’s unimaginable, it’s indescribable.

“To accept money in exchange for reliving or retelling how Ciara died, or laying bear our personal journey of agony, it would be an affront to Ciara and all that she was as a person and all that she stood for.”

Mr Glennon said the family’s memories of his daughter were “precious” and “sacred”.

At times, Mr Glennon became emotional and as tears welled in his eyes he said of Edwards: “He has done enough damage to my family and I will not permit him to cause further damage.”

Mr Glennon said another question he had been asked was about closure.

“There is no such experience as closure,” he said.

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