Tormented mum of murdered schoolgirl Paige Doherty says she has terrifying dreams about her daughter’s final moments
She is tortured by the “awful realisation” she wasn’t there to help her daughter in her last moments
THE tormented mum of slain Paige Doherty revealed she is haunted by nightmares where she hears her daughter’s final screams.
Pamela Munro admitted she wakes up in the middle of the night and imagines she can hear the teenager’s cries.
And she is tortured by the “awful realisation” she wasn’t there to help Paige, 15, in her last moments.
The guilt-ridden mum’s anguish emerged after monster John Leathem, 31, yesterday admitted stabbing Paige to death at his deli in Clydebank.
Prosecutor Iain McSporran read a heartbreaking statement to the High Court in Glasgow describing how grieving Pamela’s life had been shattered by the killing.
He said: “Her mother’s victim statement expresses her feelings more eloquently than I could, listing all the things she was entitled to expect for the future — a trip to New York, her daughter’s wedding day, a grandchild.
“Even her 16th birthday was denied her. She describes sleeplessness and nightmares, waking to hear her daughter’s screams and the awful realisation that she was not there to help her.”
Her aunt, Sharon, has since told of her reaction to facing her niece's killer in court.
Since Paige’s murder in March, Pamela, 33, of Clydebank, has worked tirelessly in her daughter’s memory to help others.
She set up the Paige’s Promise charity, which offers self defence classes for youngsters to help to prevent similar tragedies.
And it also provides a befriending service for other bereaved families.
Mr McSporran also revealed how the killing had affected Paige’s brothers Andrew, ten, and Lucas, nine, and her five-year-old sister Peyton.
The advocate depute said: “In my meetings with Paige’s mother Pamela she has presented as a strong personality who has thrown herself into various events and activities in her daughter’s memory, no doubt as her way of coping with the loss of her first born child in such awful circumstances.
“The effect on her siblings, and the loss suffered by her many friends are all set out in touching detail.”
Mr McSporran told how Paige’s stepdad, Andrew Munro, had also been tormented by the teenager’s death.
The 34-year-old’s worst fears were that his stepdaughter would have been conscious and fighting back in vain during the frenzied knife attack.
The prosecutor said: “Andrew, who treated Paige as his daughter, seems to be finding great difficulty in dealing with events as no doubt are all members of the extended family and wide circle of friends.
“He describes living in a state of depression.
“They cannot get out of their minds the terror they believe Paige must have experienced as the attack upon her began, and their worst fears — that she was conscious and fighting back in vain — are confirmed by the post mortem report.”
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The victim impact statement also included a tribute from Paige’s grandmother Roseann Bothwell, 69, of Cambuslang, near Glasgow.
Mr McSporran said: “Roseann describes her granddaughter as an incredibly kind and selfless person, an all round good girl.
“She is heartbroken and says that she and the entire family will never get over what has happened.”
Mum Pamela had previously led an emotional tribute to her daughter as she was laid to rest at a packed St Margaret’s Church in Clydebank.
She had promised mourners at the service in April that no one could now hurt her “beautiful, smiling” girl in a moving eulogy.
She said: “There is no disputing Paige was taken from us in the most cruel way imaginable.
“Yet I take comfort in knowing Paige is in a safe and happy place where no one can hurt her.” Pamela told how she hoped her daughter would be remembered for having a “smile across her face every day”.
And she told loved ones that the teenager would have wanted them to move on with their lives, despite the tragedy.
She said: “Today will be the saddest and hardest day most of us will ever face, but I want everyone to take two minutes to ask yourself — when did you ever see Paige sad?
“When did you see Paige upset, scared and alone?
“The answer will most likely be never and if you have, it will be very few and far between.”
And in a salute to her talented daughter’s skill as a dancer, proud mum Pamela said: “Take a look around, this is all for you.
“Sleep tight our beautiful girl. Keep dancing in the sky and show heaven what an angel really is.”
Pamela has since told of her struggle to stay strong for her children — but has vowed to keep going for their sake.
She said: “I have kind of focused on positive things.
“I have three children in the house — you can’t just break down. They are coping the best they can but it’s hard to watch them.
“If your daughter died, could you describe it? It could never be the same feeling until it does happen.”
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