The High Court has heard the image of a missing Wexford woman was used without permission in a violent and pornographic American horror movie.
The family of Statia Purcell are trying to stop further distribution of the film 'Wrong Turn 6: Last Resort' which they say is selling well in the run up to Halloween.
The disappearance of Statia Purcell this day last year sparked a nationwide search partly assisted by a photograph of her taken by the 66 year old's son in law.
Her body was found 8 days later in a tributary of the River Barrow – it's believed she died of a heart attack.
Recently neighbours got in touch with the family to say they had seen the very same photograph appear in a film by Twentieth Century Fox called Wrong Turn 6: Last Resort.
It was described in court by the family's lawyers as a movie of gratuitous violence and pornography.
The court heard Statia Purcell's image appears between scenes of extraordinary horror on a board of missing persons – but in this photo she has been turned into a man – which has caused her family great upset.
Mr Justice Paul Gilligan has refused their request for a court order restraining further broadcast or distribution of the film without giving the other side a chance to have their say and the case will return to court next Wednesday.
