EXCLUSIVE:’Our children are not supposed to die like this, nowhere is safe now’-East London bereaved mothers share their sorrow following Southport horror.

‘Knife crime has been ignored by all those in authority for years here in London and right across the country-they don’t care.’

Three mothers who lost their children to knife crime have spoken to the Havering Daily about the pain and sadness they have felt watching the horrific events unfold in Southport this week.

Peguy Kato, Sue Hedges and Julie Taylor have all expressed their sorrow for the families involved in Monday’s violent attack on children at a dance class in North West England.

“There is so much violence on our streets right now. Knife crime at this large scale could have been prevented if it had been dealt with the right way, but it wasn’t,” says Peguy, from Harold Hill. She lost her son Champion Ganda twelve years ago in a brutal attack that saw him stabbed eleven times.

“My heart goes out to all these families. This is not supposed to happen. Our children are not supposed to die like this. These children were going to a dance class, they are supposed to be safe there. It is the school holidays, children are attending different clubs everywhere. Every parent dropping their child off at a club from now on is going to be scared. Every parent will be fearing for their child’s safety. This is how things are now.

“We have no sentences for knife crime. No one out there cares for our children.”

All three mothers have been shocked at what happened on Monday and have all said that they are at a loss for words.

“I was so upset when the news come through, those poor children, adults, community and the emergency services seeing that awful tragedy,” says Sue from Hornchurch. She lost her son Ricky Hayden in brutal attack in 2016.

“This proves if a 17 year old can walk into a family centre and do that this country is now on the brink of a major disaster no one is safe anywhere. As we all wait for confirmed details my thoughts are this should never have happened. If this person goes down the mental health route as a way out he should still be put put away for life. Families will be hurting and grieving.

“We have made a cruel world now where no one is safe. My love and thoughts go out the the families involved and the community of Southport. Myself and my family feel your pain . It really is time to bring the tougher sentencing in with no release in cases like this.”

Every time someone loses their life to knife crime, these parents relive their pain. They understand the pain the families are going through, they have been there.

“It’s absolutely devastating I’ve been in tears”, says Julie Taylor who lost her grandson Liam Taylor aged just 19 years old when he was stabbed to death outside of Chelmsford.

“Everything we hear of a knife attack brings back the trauma of what happened to our angel.Monday’s horror is so shocking, those poor innocent little children and everyone involved who will never forget this tragic day. This nightmare will be with them forever

“And to the poor families who sent their children off to a day of what should have been fun and happiness, how do they ever recover- you don’t. They will never recover from this.

“Now we have more beautiful angels who were taken to soon. Our love and prayers go out to everyone.”

These parents know pain, they know what it is like to be broken. They spend everyday hoping their child will walk through their door again.

“We are not supposed to bury our child. It is not supposed to be this way,” finishes Peguy.

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