Blue and green tribute is staged to teenage girl, 13, found stabbed to death in woodland

MOURNERS ATTENDED the funeral of murdered schoolgirl Lucy McHugh, who was found stabbed to death last month.

The body of the 13-year-old was found in woodland at Southampton Sports Centre on July 26.

Family and friends at Hollybrook Cemetery where Lucy was laid to rest yesterday wore green and blue – the teen’s favourite colours.

Her mother Stacey White said the event was to be a “celebration of her life”.

Her body was brought to the chapel in a hearse pulled by two white horses.

In a eulogy read by Reverand Sean Blackman, Lucy’s family said: “Lucy was a little hurricane of smiles and lip gloss, wearing the brightest colours possible, with no care for what anyone thought.

“She was a real individual and never followed the crowd.”

It continued: “Lucy respected everybody regardless of their colour or creed.

“She loved playing football, she loved cooking, she loved making cakes, she was on the gymnastics team.”

It added that she loved small children and walking the dog with her grandparents. A gofundme page set up to raise £5,000 towards costs for Lucy’s funeral received more than £6,000 in two days.

Her father Andy McHugh chose not to attend the funeral, saying he wanted to avoid “unnecessary conflict”.

He posted on Facebook: “To honour my daughter and avoid unnecessary conflict I have made the difficult decision not to attend the public celebration of Lucy’s life.

“I am arranging an alternative service for those who wish to honour Lucy and say goodbye, but have felt unable to attend the public event.”

He added: “Yes I have not seen my daughter for four years but it doesn’t mean I am not hurting she was my daughter as well.”

Stephen-Alan Nicholson, who was arrested on suspicion of murder and sexual activity with a child, was released on police bail on July 31 but remanded in custody at Southampton Magistrates’ Court after he was charged under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) for failing to provide his Facebook password to detectives.