THE mum of a seven-year-old boy murdered when fire swept through a Huddersfield house 14 years ago has spoken of her frustration.

Tracey McCafferty feels the anniversaries of her son, Joe’s, death are passing by with no movement at all on the case.

A nationwide appeal on Crimewatch last year failed to crack the long-running murder inquiry and now Tracey feels nothing is being done to catch the killer.

Joe died after petrol was poured through the letterbox of his aunt Debbie Pierre’s house, on Haywood Avenue in Marsh, and set alight on May 3, 1997 – just two days after Labour swept to victory in the General Election.

Joe, who would have turned 21 last October, was staying at the house and was badly injured in the fire.

He died soon after at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary.

Tracey said: “Tuesday was the 14th anniversary of the day we lost Joe and I heard nothing at all from the police. I just feel the investigation is going nowhere and there is just no change in the situation. Nothing seems to be happening.”

Last September’s Crimewatch programme featured an interview with Joe’s family and showed previously unseen home video footage.

A clip of the programme can be viewed on the Examiner website, www.examiner.co.uk

In it, Debbie remembers the traumatic events of that night.

She said: “Whilst I was asleep I could hear somebody shouting. All I could see was orange roaring flames. The heat was horrendous.

“To think somebody could actually do something like that and that they could actually cause, not only one death – it could have been all of us, we could all have died.”

Det Supt Dave Pervin, who is now leading the police investigation into Joe’s death, said: “We will never stop looking for the killer of Joe McCafferty and our investigation is very much active and ongoing.

“We were disappointed that, despite a number of appeals in the media and on Crimewatch at the time of what would have been Joe’s 21st birthday, no-one has come forward with information to help us.

“We still feel that someone in the Marsh area knows something that can help us to track down little Joe’s killer.

“All I would say to that person is that it’s never too late to do the right thing and come forward.”

An intensive investigation failed to pin down a motive and the identity of the killer remains a mystery despite repeated appeals.

The main clue to the killer was the burned remains of the green plastic Unipart container used for motor oil.

It was dark green, used for 20/50 motor oil and was last made in 1994. Most were sold at Esso filling stations.

Anyone with information should call the incident room on 01274 373700.

They can also call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or send a text message to 07786 200805.