Grieving mum leads tributes to Barra teen killed in arena terror attack
● Marion Macleod says Manchester attack shattered here world into pieces
A grieving mother said her “whole world has been shattered into pieces” as the first moving tributes were paid to victims at the Manchester Arena public inquiry.
Poignant memories from family and friends remembering the 22 people murdered in the May 2017 terror attack began yesterday as the commemorative hearings phase of the inquiry began.
Tributes were paid to Eilidh Macleod, 14, from the island of Barra in the Outer Hebrides, Martyn Hett, 29, from Stockport, and John Atkinson, 28, at the start of the second week of the inquiry.
Rode rick and Marion Macleod attended the hearing in Manchester as a video tribute was played for their daughter, the second-born of their three girls.
The video began with images of a beautiful sunrise over the mountains and beaches of Barra, set to traditional bagpipe music, one of Eilidh’s passions.
Marion Mac Leod said: “Eilidh was a very special girl – of course she was, she was mine.
“Even though she was only 14 she was loving life. My whole world has been shattered into pieces.”
The video was interspersed with photos of Eilidh as a young child, pictured dressing up, wearing make-up and posing for happy family holiday snaps.
Shy and quiet growing up, Eilidh would often hide behind her big sister Shona, the inquiry heard.
Though very close to her family, as she grew up she loved make-up, her phone, social media and music, playing in pipe bands, with the video showing her in a kilt and playing the pipes.
Duncan Nicholson, the son of her bagpipes tutor, said: “As we say on the islands: ‘She had the music’.”
Eilidh always had a book on the go and loved Harry Potter, along with her younger sister Laura, and schoolmates from Castlebay Community School remembered her for her bubbliness and friendliness.
Michelle M clean, her old teacher at primary school, said: “You are taught not to have favourites but some children just stick with you, and Eilidh was one of the girls that stuck with me.”
The teenager’s aunt, Mar - garet McNeill, said :“From the day she was born Eilidh brought joy.
“She really was a blondehaired, green-eyed bundle of fun.”
Her cousin, Tony Mcneill, said :“I miss Eilidh every single day. I miss everything about Eilidh every single day. I’m still Eilidh’s godfather and I love her millions and I always will.”