MoD failed to support us, says mum Lyn
THE mother of murdered soldier Lee Rigby has blasted the MOD, saying they failed to support his family and claiming she skips meals to make ends meet.
Lyn Rigby made the comments on the BBC’s Victoria Derbyshire show as she unveiled a new retreat in Staffordshire for families of bereaved soldiers.
She said the retreat, named Lee Rigby House, will offer support for families, because of the lack of help on offer from the Ministry of Defence.
Fusilier Lee Rigby was attacked and killed by Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale near the Royal Artillery Barracks, in Woolwich, on May 22, 2013.
Lyn, who appeared alongside Lee’s sister Courtney, said only Lee’s next of kin were offered support following his death while his parents and siblings were left to struggle.
She said: “We never got the support, we were classed as a nondependant family of Lee’s so wasn’t classed as Lee’s family.
“The next of kin gets looked after, gets the support and everything else.
“There’s a lot of military families siblings who don’t get the support.”
Lyn said after Lee’s funeral there were no phone calls, counselling or financial aid offered - with Lyn admitting she skipped meals so her children could eat.
The family live off Lyn’s husband wages, but he recently needed time off work due to mental health reasons after the Manchester Arena attack, which meant his pay was docked.
She said the Arena attack, on the fourth anniversary of Lee’s death, also “brought back” all the awful memories and she was expecting a phone call from the MOD but received nothing.
Mrs Rigby told the show she has since formed a friendship with Olivia Campbell’s mum Charlotte and attended her funeral.
Lyn said: “With me it brought me straight back down to the day Lee died, it is just all the horrific circumstances. It was children at the end of the day, I have lost my child so my heart just went out to all the other parents looking for their children and partners.
“It was a coward’s attack, it was awful.
“There were mums out there appealing for help finding their children, it was like that for us, it was 12 hours after he was killed we were told. It was horrific.
“Charlotte Campbell’s mum, I went to the funeral and we made friends. My heart just melted for her, I just wanted to give her a hug and tell her I knew what she was going through.”
A spokesman from the MoD told the BBC: “We do our utmost to support armed forces families who have lost loved ones, providing trained visiting officers who offer guidance on accessing help as well as a range of support from individual regiments including financial aid.
“Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of Drummer Lee Rigby.”