Haunting grief of wives and mothers left behind by terror
UNITED in grief and resolve, they came to court to honour their loved ones and demand justice.
Holding hands among tearful relatives gathered on the steps, the two women did not know each other before the Tunisia atrocity.
Suzanne Richards’ son, father and brother were all massacred. She accused holiday firm TUI of putting profits before security.
Standing next to her with a pink ribbon was Cheryl Stollery. Her husband John, 58, died from a shot to the head as he tried to flee.
Mr Stollery had survived the Troubles serving as a Paratrooper in Northern Ireland and was a member of the funeral cortège of Lord Mountbatten after he was assassinated by the IRA in 1979.
Yesterday his 56-year-old widow branded the Tunisian police cowards and called for travel agencies to be forced to reveal terror risks at the point of booking.
‘Disappointingly, I still believe questions have been left unanswered and responsibilities have not been accepted, so we are not
‘An attack like this was entirely predictable’
able to rest or move on,’ she said. ‘I wish to see all prospective holidaymakers being provided with mandatory security information.’
Mrs Stollery said nothing would ever be be normal again for her and her son Matt, 23.
She added: ‘John could have done so much more especially with Matt and me, with our friends, with his life.
‘He was special to so many people and as a social worker was important to the many children and young people he worked with.’
Mrs Richards condemned TUI and the Tunisian authorities, saying: ‘Customer safety did not seem to be a priority.’
Also with her at court was her son Owen, 18, who narrowly survived the murderous rampage. His elder brother Joel, 19, uncle Adrian Evans, 49, and grandfather Charles Evans, 78, were mercilessly cut down.
With a bravery beyond his years, Owen, then aged 16, had desperately tried to help his grandfather escape the slaughter. But Mr Evans kept falling, telling his grandson: ‘He’s got me’.
The family, from the West Midlands, were enjoying the first day of a trip to celebrate Owen passing his GCSEs.
Mrs Richards said yesterday: ‘Within 12 hours of being on holiday, my eldest son, my dad and my brother were murdered and the only protection they had was each other. Words will never explain the devastation of losing my family in such a horrific manner and every day is a colossal struggle without them. But my mother and I are blessed we still have Owen which makes our lives worth living.’
Demanding lessons be learnt, she said: ‘I am convinced an attack of this nature was entirely predictable and there was a responsibility placed upon the Tunisian authorities and TUI to put structures and procedures in place to secure the safety of their customers.’
The inquest heard that Owen suffered a wound to his shoulder in the hail of bullets. He told British police that his brother Joel screamed ‘No’ three times before being blasted at close range.
The family of Scott Chalk- ley, 42, from Derby, who died alongside his partner Sue Davey, 43, from Staffordshire, said: ‘What is perhaps the saddest is that Scott was taken when he had found true happiness.
‘Despite being the eternal bachelor, Scott was smitten with Sue and they had just made the step of buying a house together. It was the celebration of that relationship that had taken them both to Tunisia.’
Kieran Mitchell, of law firm Slater and Gordon, said: ‘Hearing of TUI’s apparent lack of interest in security and the police’s disinterest in responding to the massacre has been extremely pain- ful for Mr Chalkley’s family.’ Ray and Angie Fisher, from Leicester, were killed shortly before their golden wedding anniversary.
Their son Adam Fisher, 43, said they would not have gone had they seen travel advice about the risks.
Nick Longman, the managing director of TUI UK, said outside court: ‘We are so very sorry for the pain and loss those affected have suffered.
‘ On that day the world changed. As an industry we have adapted and we will need to continue to do so.
‘This terrorist incident has left its mark on all of us and its impact will always be remembered.’