BEREAVED mum Tracey McCafferty wept as she revealed the heartache she still feels 12 years after her young son’s brutal death.

Miss McCafferty gave an emotional appeal to the public for information that could help bring Joe McCafferty’s killer to justice.

Tomorrow is the 12th anniversary of the seven-year-old’s death in an arson attack on a house at Haywood Avenue in Marsh.

Miss McCafferty, 44, said: “After 12 long years I still can’t find the right words to describe how I feel. It’s still as raw now as it was back then.

“As a mother you never expect to bury your children and you shouldn’t have to.

“Since Joe died I’ve tried to move on with my life, which I have to a certain extent.

“But how can I move on never knowing who set the house on fire?

“Joe’s dead, he can’t feel any pain, but as a mum I feel the pain every day.”

Joe and his older brother Nicky were staying with their aunt Debra on May 2 1997 because Miss McCafferty had been working away that week.

Petrol was poured through the letterbox and set alight in the early hours of May 3.

Nicky suffered serious burns, but Joe died from his injuries.

An intensive investigation failed to pin down a motive.

The identity of the killer remains a mystery.

Det Supt Dave Pervin took over the investigation into Joe’s death about a month ago.

He said: “This investigation will continue until we bring to account the person responsible.

“This case will never be filed until then.”

He added: “It is my view that the answers to the questions about who did this and why they did it lie within the local community.

“Clearly there is at least one person who knows what they did that night and why.

“There are possibly others who, although not directly involved, may hold vital information.”

In a direct appeal to the killer, he said: “You may not have intended for this little boy to die, but you have caused 12 years of continued suffering and heartache to the family and now is the time to stop this.”

Miss McCafferty revealed she had considered taking her own life after Joe’s death.

She said: “Put yourself in my shoes – I wake up, Joe’s on my mind, I go to sleep, he’s still there.

“This is because I have no closure.

“Joe was innocent – he never hurt anybody.

“He was a little boy who enjoyed life with his brother, doing the things that little boys do.

“This person or people have ruined my life.”

Anyone with information should call police on 0845 6060606 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or text 07786200806. Watch Tracey McCafferty’s appeal at www.examiner.co.uk