Cairns house where eight children were found dead to be razed by end of day

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The Cairns house where eight children were found dead in December will be razed by the end of the day.

Work began at the start of this week to tear down the house on Murray Street, Manoora, with workers cleaning and removing asbestos from the fenced-off public housing property earlier this week.

It was the scene of the alleged murder of four boys and four girls aged between two and 14 by Raina Mersane Thaiday, the mother of seven of the children and aunt of one.

Today, an excavator was brought in to help with the final leg of demolition works. The house should be completely knocked down by the end of the day.

It will be replaced by a memorial, which locals hope will be in place by the anniversary of the children's deaths later this year.

Some of the ideas for the memorial include a community garden and a playground.

Earlier this week, Community Healing Project director Michael White said residents would be relieved to see the house gone.

"The majority of people are wanting to see that happen," he said.

"But it will be a bit emotional too and a sombre moment for the community."

Extra counsellors will be at the nearby Manoora Community Centre this week to help locals who might be struggling.

Thaiday has been charged with eight counts of murder and is due before the Cairns Magistrates court later this month.



Topics: death, community-and-society, cairns-4870