Mum of London teenager killed in Nottingham attack remembers ‘beautiful baby girl’ who was ‘just walking home’

Grace O’Malley-Kumar’s family addressed crowds at a vigil held in Nottingham this afternoon (June 15). The medical student’s mum Sinead addressed the audience, saying the city was “not the only place grieving” as she remembered her “beautiful baby girl”.

People gathered in the city’s Old Market Square to hear from the families of the victims as Sinead O’Malley, Grace’s younger brother James and her dad Dr Sanjoy Kumar were joined by Barnaby Webber’s family, Ian Coates’ sons, as well as members of local government, faith leaders and university representatives.

Addressing the crowd at a vigil in her daughter’s memory, she said: “My beautiful baby girl, she wasn’t just beautiful on the outside, you must have seen her pictures, she was so beautiful on the inside. She was a treasure, an adored child. She wanted very few things in life, she wanted to be a doctor, she wanted to play hockey with her pals, she wanted to have fun.”

READ MORE: Nottingham attack suspect named locally as graduate from same university as London victim

The mother went on: “All they were doing was walking home, were just walking home after a night-out and, like Emma Webber says, this person must face justice. It just is truly so unfair but I’ll echo what my husband said yesterday – be kind to each other, look after each other, don’t have hate in your hearts. Say prayers for my baby girl.”

She added that neither her daughter nor Barnaby Webber were from Nottingham, and that the city was not the only place grieving. “The magnitude of the grief reflects the magnitude of the love,” she said. “The love we had for her.”

Sinead was then followed by James, who shared some gut-wrenching words, urging people to “cherish every moment” they spend with their loved ones. James said: “Grace wasn’t only just a sister to me, she was a best friend of mine, my mother, my father, all her friends and all her family.

“If there’s only one message that comes out of this, I urge you all to cherish every moment you spend with your loved ones as you just never know when it will end.”

Sanjoy then spoke about the loss of his daughter and to imagine a world without violence. He said: “We were four and we are now three, and the same for Barney’s family. I speak to you as a broken-hearted father. I loved my Grace more than I loved anything and I’m trying to be as strong as I can, forgive me.

“There are people in hospital as well who were injured from the attack and as families our thoughts are with them as well. I really hope and wish them a speedy recovery.”

With the final words of his speech, Dr Kumar said: “Imagine a world of just love and no violence. Just imagine that world. Thank you.”

Barnaby’s mum Emma asked the crowd at a vigil in Nottingham held partly in memory of her son to “hold no hate”. She said the “monstrous individual” responsible for the deaths in the city on Tuesday “will not define us”.

“I know he will receive the retribution that he deserves,” she said. “However, this evil person is just that. He is just a person. Please hold no hate that relates to any colour, sex or religion.”

Grace’s mother could be seen in an embrace as Mrs Webber delivered her speech to the thousands in attendance, and Barnaby’s emotional brother held a photo of him as she spoke. His father, David Webber, placed his hand on his wife’s shoulder throughout the entire speech and the crowd cheered loudly as she invited them to give a big round of applause for all those affected by the attacks.

School caretaker Ian’s sons also offered their support to the students’ families as they appeared on stage dressed in Nottingham Forest shirts which read “RIP Dad” on the back. James Coates said: “Obviously they are going through the same thing that we are, anything they need from us we’re happy to support you.”

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