Brianna Ghey’s mum urges vigil crowd to ‘hug your children tight’ in emotional tribute on anniversary of teen’s murder
Today marks a year since the 'ferocious' attack carried out by the two teens who were obsessed with 'violence, torture and death'
BRIANNA Ghey’s mum has urged parents to “hug your children tight” at a tearful vigil marking the one-year anniversary of her daughter’s brutal murder.
The schoolgirl, 16, was lured to Linear Park in Warrington and killed by Scarlett Jenkinson and Eddie Ratcliffe, both of whom were 15 at the time.
Today a memorial is being held for Ghey one year on from her violent death – with mourners gathering to remember the teen.
Brianna’s mum Esther was spotted arriving for the vigil in Golden Square, Warrington, this afternoon.
Holding back tears, Esther told the crowd: “I really didn’t think that I was going to be able to come on stage today.
“But after seeing all Brianna’s really brave, lovely friends come on and do that for her, I thought I’d better push myself as well.
“So, as you’ve all heard, Brianna was an amazing, unique and joyful teenager.
“I will be forever thankful that I was lucky enough to spend 16 years with her.
“She taught me so much and gave me so much happiness and love.
“If there’s one piece of advice that I can give to any parent, it would be to hug your children tight.
“Never stop telling them that you love them.
“I want to thank you all for coming here today to pay respect to Brianna.
“I hope that wherever she is now, that she can feel the love that we’ve created by joining together today.
“Thank you to the Golden Square and to all involved making this vigil happen. Thank you.”
She said the pressure to conform is “so intense” for teenagers.
“Be true to yourself, be yourself, and not a version of yourself that you think others want you to be.”
Last week Esther called on the government to ban social media for under-16s after Brianna’s killers became obsessed with the dark web.
At the vigil, Brianna’s headteacher Emma Mills said: “Brianna knew who she was.
“And she was determined to be true to that. This determination and spirit is something that I always admired about Brianna.
“It’s a deserving legacy for us to remember her by. Societal pressure to conform is very real, for all of us.
“But the level of pressure as a teenager among your peers can be so intense.
“Brianna knew who she was, and she didn’t bow to the pressures around her. Please remember that about her.
“Be true to yourself, be yourself, and not a version of yourself that you think others want you to be.”
Jenkinson and Ratcliffe were named by a judge as the pair were handed life sentences for murder on Friday.
The teens were just 15 years old when they hatched a horrific plan and knifed helpless Brianna 28 times.
The schoolgirl, 16, was lured to Linear Park in Warrington, in February last year by the sadistic pair – who are now both 16.
Brianna, who was transgender, didn’t stand a chance against the “ferocious” attack and was sadly found dead in the park by a dog walker.
Jenkinson, whose parents were both teachers, had been expelled from Culceth High School over a drug incident.
She struck up a friendship with Ratcliffe, who had a crush on one of her friends, and the pair began messaging each other.
But their innocent chats soon turned deadly as they became “preoccupied with violence, torture and death”.
Manchester Crown Court was told the pair “encouraged one another to think about how they would actually carry out a killing”.
This culminated in a “kill list” of five people they wanted to murder before eventually settling on tragic Brianna.
Jenkinson had grown “obsessed” with the teen and concocted a plot to kill her using medication.
Timeline of terror - how Brianna's killing unfolded
2022
November
– The two teenagers discussed killing a child referred to in court as boy M.
December 5
– Jenkinson sends Ratcliffe a video which was apparently an advert for an underground site for people who like rape, snuff, torture and murder.
December 15
– She messages Ratcliffe, telling him she is “obsessed over someone” called Brianna but did not have feelings for them.
2023
January 1
– Ratcliffe sends Jenkinson a photograph of a hunting knife and tells her: “Spent my money. I bought a knife.”
January 23
– Jenkinson messages Ratcliffe, telling him she gave Brianna so many tablets it “should have been enough to kill her”.
January 26
– The two teenagers compile a list of at least four people, as well as Brianna, they wanted to kill.
February 3
– Jenkinson sends Ratcliffe a picture of a handwritten note of their plan of how to kill Brianna, titled “Saturday 11th February 2023. Victim: Brianna Ghey”.
February 11
1.41pm – Brianna sends her mother a message saying: “I’m on the bus by myself, I’m scared.”
1.53pm – Brianna meets Jenkinson and Ratcliffe at a bus stop in Culcheth.
2.30pm – Brianna messages a friend, describing Jenkinson as “weird”.
3.06pm – Brianna sends a message to Jenkinson saying “Girl where are you”.
3.13pm – Brianna is found lifeless by dog walkers Kathryn and Andrew Vize.
4.02pm – Brianna is declared dead at the scene.
February 12
– Jenkinson and Ratcliffe are arrested at their homes.
February 15
Police find Brianna’s phone in a drain, stained with her blood in an area Jenkinson and Ratcliffe were seen walking shortly after the murder.
Tragically, no motive for the murder has been given – with the lead investigator saying both had a “thirst for killing”.
Detective Chief Superintendent Mike Evans, head of crime at Cheshire Police, also previously revealed fears they could have struck again if they were not caught.
RISHI JIBE
Last week Rishi Sunak risked a major row after making a jibe about Labour’s stance on trans people while Esther visited parliament.
Sunak accused Sir Keir Starmer of having difficulty in “defining a woman” during an attack on Labour Party U-turns.
Ms Ghey is understood to have entered the Commons chamber for PMQs after the comment – but both Mr Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer were under the impression she was present as it was made.
Starmer said: “Of all the weeks to say that, when Brianna’s mother is in this chamber. Shame.”
The PM was asked by multiple MPs to apologise to Ms Ghey.
At the end of PMQs he said: “I’d like to say to Brianna’s mother, what happened was an unspeakable and shocking tragedy.
“In the face of that for her mother to demonstrate the compassion and empathy that she did demonstrated the very best of humanity in the face of the very worst of humanity.”
Brianna’s father Peter Spooner said Mr Sunak should say sorry for the “degrading” and “dehumanising” remark made in the Commons.