Shirley was born in the Royal Victoria Hospital Belfast to Jean Finley on the 22nd of September 1981. She weighed 8 pounds and 15 ounces and due to her mothers mental state was taken into care from birth. She lived with her short-term foster parents for about a year and then went into more long term fostering with the Corry family. Here she enjoyed a happy childhood went to school played with her friends and loved her holidays in Wexford with the family. When Shirley began to show some emotional and behavioural problems in consultation with the Social Services it was agreed that Shirley might do better in another foster home and so she moved. This decision brought a lot of heartache to the Corry's and also to Shirley. She lived with her new foster parents for a number of years but sadly this was to break down too. Shirley moved into a more formilised environment to a home in County Armagh here she continued to have contact with the Corry's and indeed that lasted up until 15months before she died. Over the years Shirley drifted in and out of peoples lives. She did not meet many of her blood family who had wanted so much to take her home at birth and adopt her. Unfortunately it was thought that due to her mothers illness it was better to put her in care. To this day her birth family feel the great loss of Shirleys life in their family life.
Shirley was brutally murdered on the 19th of September 2006 aged 24, a young life taken away by an evil person. Shirley had many wonderful qualties, yes she had her problems but she will always be remembered by those of us who loved her and whom she left her mark of love with. May she rest in peace in the arms of Our Loving Father, an Angel to be remembered