Which would surely mean that family members and friends were all mistaken in unison. Or were lying in unison. (Jill, Phil, et al)
Or simply repeating what Gerry in his initial distraught state believed.
What I cant understand is why are you all making such a lot out of this Jemmied thing ?
Poor bloke must have been near out of his mind at that time, especially as he believed someone had broken in (to abduct his lovely daughter) At that time he thought that the shutters were a security measure and that they could not be opened from outside, so they had to have been forced/ jemmied. He must have very near demented with dreadful thoughts. At this time his thoughts would have been passed on to his friends.
Hence the unison. NORMAL in such circumstances IMO
They were more concerned about the search than examining the shutters .... and once the PJ and maybe the GNR got involved the place was taped off and they no longer could.
AIMO