Saying goodbye to terror victims
FUNERALS OF TYNESIDE COUPLE WILL TAKE PLACE ON THURSDAY
FRIENDS and family of a Tyneside couple killed in the Manchester terror attack will say their final goodbyes in the coming days.
The funerals of South Shields sweethearts Liam Curry and Chloe Rutherford will take place on Thursday.
It comes after loved-ones of Gateshead victim Courtney Boyle, 19, attended her funeral last Friday.
They were all killed in the atrocity at the end of the Ariana Grande concert on May 22 which claimed the lives of 22 people.
Courtney’s mum’s partner, Philip Tron, 32, also died.
It has also now been a week since terror came to London for the second time in as many months when three men killed innocent pedestrians on London Bridge and Borough Market, leaving eight people dead and dozens injured.
It follows the Westminster Bridge attack in March when a terrorist drove at pedestrians and then stabbed PC Keith Palmer. Five died in total.
The nation has been in mourning following the unprecedented onslaught of terrorist attacks in such a short space of time in our country.
But our solidarity was highlighted last weekend when big-hearted Grande held a huge benefit concert in Manchester, where she was joined by the likes of Liam Gallagher, Katy Perry, Coldplay, Niall Horan, Justin Bieber, Take That and Miley Cyrus.
So far a total of 21 people have been arrested by police investigating the Manchester attack, with 18 of those released without charge. Hundreds turned out to release balloons at the New Mill pub in South Shields for Manchester atrocity victims
Down south eight remain in custody over the London Bridge atrocity while another 12 were arrested and released.
This weekend the Metropolitan Police made public the chilling pictures of the pink-bladed knives the London Bridge terrorists used to slay their victims.
The photos show how the terrorist bound the 12 inch weapons with black tape before they used them to kill and maim revellers last Saturday. And they were ceramic, possibly so the murderers could avoid metal detectors, police believe.
While our region was rocked by the devastating killings of people from on our doorsteps, communities, family and friends have rallied together to release balloons and a fundraising concert dubbed ‘Together Forever’ at the South Shields Amphitheatre.
Hundreds gathered to release yellow balloons for Leeds Beckett student Courtney and Philip at the Angel of the North and mourners wore yellow at her funeral held at Saltwell Crematorium.
Courtney’s heartbroken sister wrote: “Courtney my wonder of a sister who is now a shining yellow star in the sky.”
For students Liam and Chloe, both 19, thousands of pink and blue balloons were released from their town’s coastline. Their joint funeral will celebrate their lives this Thursday at St Hilda’s Church in South Shields, followed by a private cremation.
The families have requested mourners to wear something pink or blue to remember the teenagers at the service beginning at 10.30am.
Anyone wishing to make donations have been directed to Cancer Connections.
In a tribute their parents said: “They were perfect in every way for each other and meant to be.
“They were beautiful inside and out to ourselves and our families, and they were inseparable.
“Chloe always described herself as ditzy who Liam adored and would do anything for, including Chloe’s demands for chocolate.
“They lived to go to new places together and explore different cities. They wanted to be together forever and now they are.”
The date for Philip’s funeral has yet to be announced.