ALL WE HAVE NOW IS HEARTBREAK
Families of Arena attack victims share grief as bomber’s brother refuses to face them in court
FAMILY members of the Manchester bombing victims have described how “life will never be the same”, with heartbroken parents breaking down in court as they recalled the moment they discovered their loved ones had died.
Lisa Rutherford, mother of 17-year-old Chloe Rutherford from South Shields, said her “heart snapped” when she received a telephone call with the news.
Wiping away tears, and supported in court by crutches, she said: “We are lost, we are devastated and we feel an overwhelming loss.
“Somehow we are expected to get through life without her, without our baby girl, and it just feels impossible.
“There is always that empty chair where she should be.”
Caroline Curry held up a photo of her son Liam Curry, 19, also from South Shields, who was Chloe’s boyfriend and also died in the blast.
Mrs Curry spoke through tears as she appeared to address some of her comments to Hashem Abedi, who refused to come into court for his sentencing hearing. Abedi was convicted of the murder of 22 people in the Arena bombing which
was carried out by his brother Salman. The court was told Abedi worked with his brother to source materials used in the blast
She said: “You took from me something more precious than gold, a beautiful boy, inside and out.
“I want you to look at Liam and remember the beautiful boy that was snatched away.
“Your actions have caused this heartbreak. I just feel cheated. You took his future, my future, my family’s future. All we have now is heartbreak and dreams of what if.”
Survivor Claire Booth wept as she described her sister Kelly Brewster, 32, from Sheffield, as “my sidekick”.
Ms Booth said: “I can’t go anywhere in public on my own, even if it’s to the shop.
“Sometimes I feel like a prisoner in my own home. I try as much as possible to find some level of normality.
“My dad has not been able to walk his daughter down the aisle, my mum can’t take her shopping for a wedding dress.
“We will never see her grow old. As a family, we have been thrown into a world of chaos.”
Figen Murray, mother of Martyn Hett, a 29-year-old public relations manager who lived in Stockport, described how she is now unable to go to bed until after 10.31pm, the time the bomb went off. She said: “I still cannot reconcile that I was fast asleep while my son lay dead on the floor, and I am ashamed about that.
“The enormity of the loss has left a massive void, Martyn was at the top of his game, he had wonderful friendships and he was due to travel.”
Mr Hett’s father Paul Hett said the family would “never get over” his death.
He said: “Few of us can face going near to the arena or Victoria station.
“Every subsequent act of terrorism brings fresh anxiety.
“We are living in constant fear that something like this can happen again – that knock on the door.”
Simon Callander described himself as the “proud father” of 18-yearold victim Georgina Callander, who lived in Preston.
Speaking of the aftermath of the bomb, he said: “I didn’t see much daylight for the next few days.
“The house seemed so crowded with family, friends, police and neighbours.
“I walk the streets at night because I can’t go out in the day because everyone wants to come up and talk out of the goodness of their hearts. “But I don’t want to talk.” Jayne Jones, mother of Nell Jones who lived in Cheshire, described her daughter as “wise beyond her 14 years”.
Ms Jones said: “She was modest, loyal, clever and kind.”
She said the words “devastation, heartbroken” do not “come anywhere near” describing their grief, adding: “We miss her laughter, her wicked sense of humour. But we cherish her legacy.”
Daryl Price, mother of Manchester support worker John Atkinson, 28, said her son was “such a lovely, caring person and just a stranger to violence”.
She said: “He loved life, music and dancing, and most of all being with friends and family.
“Every day is a big kick in the gut. “The repercussions of that night are beyond measure.”
Some family statements were handed to the judge, Mr Justice Jeremy Baker, to be read in private.
The family of Megan Hurley, 15, who lived in Liverpool, asked simply to be able to show a court an image of the youngster.