New baby helps to breathe life back into Paige’s family

THE heartbroken mum of murdered teenager Paige Doherty has revealed how her new baby daughter has helped breathe life back into her family.

Pamela Munro has showed off nine-month-old Penny almost two years after 15-year-old Paige was brutally killed by shop owner John Leathem at his Delicious Deli in Clydebank.

Describing how Penny has given the family “new hope,” 35-year-old Pamela said: “Paige would have adored her. I’m just so sad she will never have the chance to meet her.”

She told the Daily Record: “We keep photos around the house so Penny will grow up and know all about Paige. She’s a brilliant baby and her arrival gave us something to look forward to.

“We’ve been to hell and back, but Penny has brought us happiness during a very difficult time.”

Leathem, 34, stabbed Paige more than 60 times when she stopped at his business on March 19, 2016.

He dumped her body in bushes two days later.

The married father-of-two was sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow to life with a minimum term of 27 years that October after pleading guilty to her murder.

Pamela said shortly after she wanted to face the killer in prison and ask him why he committed the horrific crime. She said in an interview: “I think he owes that to us at least; to say to us this is the reason. He’s got nothing else to lose.”

Pamela, 35, revealed exclusively to our sister title the Clydebank Post last March that she was expecting a baby.

Along with husband Andy, she said at the time: “It was always our intention to have a baby this year. We never planned it but when it happened it was a positive thing for us to focus on.

“It will never replace Paige and we wouldn’t want it to, but we have always wanted a big family.

“Paige would have loved a new wee sister.”

The family set up a self defence class for over nine-year-olds through Paige’s Promise, a charity set up by Pamela.

Pamela now focuses a lot on Paige’s Law – a campaign seeking tougher sentences and more room for victim’s rights in the legal system. This campaign comes after Leatham was granted his appeal for a reduced sentence.

Pamela hopes others will remember her daughter in the same way that Paige would want.

She said: “She would be saying to everybody ‘don’t dwell on this, don’t be sitting sad and being upset, don’t put off your life.’ She’d say ‘just forget about the person that did this, make more time for family and don’t argue – life is far too short.’”