Anger over Michelle Martin’s seaside trip

Marc Dutroux’s ex-wife, Michelle Martin, caused widespread anger after she was reportedly seen in affluent seaside resort Knokke last week. Martin, who was released in August, is not – as is often believed – under house arrest at the Clarisses convent in Namur. The terms of her conditional release stipulate that she may not go abroad or enter the provinces of Liège and Luxembourg, but otherwise she is free to go where she pleases. Last week’s seaside trip – which included a visit to the hairdresser – angered one person in particular: Knokke mayor Léopold Lippens, who said Martin was “not welcome in Knokke”, asking “don’t they have any hairdressers in Namur?”. Martin’s lawyer, Thierry Moreau, said he found such statements unacceptable and unconstitutional.