The Southport Inquiry chaired by barrister Sir Adrian Fulford wil resume at Liverpool Town Hall with more harrowing stories from the surviving children
The parents of three little girls killed in the Southport attack hope that by “uncovering the truth” no other family will have to endure the same heartbreaking tragedy, their solicitor has said. And the harrowing accounts from children who survived the ordeal will continue today (Mon), when the public inquiry resumes at Liverpool Town Hall.
The inquiry will examine countless missed chances to stop twisted teen Axel Rudakubana, who planned his knife attack on the Taylor Swift-themed event full of 26 youngsters. Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven and Alice Da Silva Aguiar, nine, died as a result of their injuries.
Eight other children were seriously injured but survived the ordeal, and more than a dozen others have also been left mentally scarred. They cannot be named for legal reasons. But the unfathomable bravery of these children was highlighted in July, when the inquiry opened with the first victim impact statements from the survivors and their parents.
One mum told how her seven-year-old daughter was stabbed 33 times as she protected her pals and helped them escape to safety. She also revealed how the children were initially left facing Rudakubana alone while some tutors rushed to get help. The mum said: “The courage and strength she found leaves me crushed, but in complete awe. I don’t for a moment doubt that the actions of the teachers saved lives.
“They escaped to call the police and flag down help, they shielded other children. I am grateful for what they did for them. “But the uncomfortable and often unspoken truth of our own reality is that, when the adults left in those first moments, our daughter had to save herself.
“Our children fought alone, they shielded each other, comforted each other, and helped each other and that must be remembered.” Over the coming weeks the inquiry is expected to hear from the families of more than 20 victims of the attack, including the parents of the slain girls.
Christopher Walker, Director of Serious Injury Law at Bond Turner, representing the three bereaved families, said: “As we enter Phase One of the Southport Inquiry, we keep all those affected firmly in our thoughts. My clients, the three bereaved families, hope the Inquiry will leave no stone unturned in establishing the facts around what led to this day. As both the Chair and the Prime Minister have said, Southport must be a line in the sand, and this Inquiry must lead to change.
“We already know that the attack was preventable. What is important to establish now is how and why. This is clearly going to be a traumatic process for everyone involved, and it is my role to ensure my clients are fully supported and we assist the Chair in establishing the truth in order to effect change.
“We are committed to bringing about change and ensuring that the legacies of Elsie, Alice, and Bebe are of hope and joy. Our three families cling to the hope that if they tread this painful path of discovery and uncovering the truth, no other families will have to again.”
The inquiry will also hear from the dance teachers who were running the class, Leanne Lucas and Heidi Liddle, both 36. Leanne was stabbed in the neck, back and arms as she tried to rush the children to safety. Heidi locked herself in a toilet with one of the children to protect her. The moment they were found shaking and petrified, was caught by a police body camera and shown at Rudakubana’s sentencing.
Jonathan Hayes, 64, was stabbed in the leg as he tried to fight off Rudakubana after hearing the children’s screams and running to their aid. He too will share his account of that day. Parents of the Southport victims have called on its chair, barrister Sir Adrian Fulford to bring meaningful change.
Rudakubana is serving a minimum of 52 years behind bars after pleading guilty to three counts of murder. He also admitted 10 counts of attempted murder, producing ricin and possessing an al-Qaeda training manual. His brother Dion is a “core participant” in the inquiry, but will not be able to watch evidence from families of the victims in the hearings. He will also not receive disclosure of material covering the attack.