Within hours of receiving the latest submission from NSW Police urging for the cases to be returned to court, Mrs Upton contacted the families and put out a press release saying she had decided “there should be no further delay in bringing this matter to court” and that the "best and most transparent way to deal with this tragic case is to make an application for retrial to the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal”, the highest criminal court in NSW.

For Leonie Duroux, sister-inlaw of Clinton Speedy Duroux, the news was a complete shock. 

“I was absolutely stunned - it seemed unbelievable that after 10 years of asking we have received what we want,” Leonie told the Guardian. 

“I know there is still a long way to go but right now I feel very excited and happy.”

Evelyn Greenup’s aunt, Michelle Jarrett, said the most amazing thing was the speed at which the Attorney General responded.

“We thought we’d have to wait, like every other time in the past ... it’s been the equivalent of four years if you add all the waiting time up,” Michele said.

“But this decision means we can skip the step of an independent reviewer - we are ecstatic! 

“It’s just what we’ve been fighting for, our chance to argue the three cases together, and we are ready.”

Detective Inspector Gary Jubelin, who has worked on the case for almost 20 years, told the Guardian, the news came as a pleasant surprise.

“The families contacted me immediately, they were very emotional,” Insp Jubelin said. 

“This is a positive step - it removes an unnecessary barrier (that the submission would be assessed by an independent reviewer prior to any decision being made) and means everything is heading in the right direction.

“The families have always wanted their day in court and now this is closer.”

Inspector Jubelin said the matter would move swiftly from this point.

“The previously acquitted man will be charged and the matter will go up before the court to decide whether there is sufficient evidence to proceed to re-trial.

“This is exciting for the families.” 

NSW Greens MP David Shoebridge, who led the unsuccessful push earlier this month for the double jeopardy laws to be tweaked to ensure the Bowraville cases could be retried, said the Attorney General’s decision was a giant step forward in the push for justice for the Bowraville murders.

“The families came time and again to Parliament, demanding justice,” Mr Shoebridge said.

“They petitioned, they called, they wrote letters, emails and pleas. In short they never gave up. Today their efforts have borne fruit.

“No court can bring these children back or end the hurt that these families have suffered, but at the very least we now have a real opportunity to right a wrong and deliver justice.”