MAMAA were very saddened today to hear that news that Damilola Taylor's mother Gloria has died of a suspected heart attack. This must be devastating for Richard so soon after losing their precious son.
People have no idea of the long term impact of murder in a family. Only this week we discovered that Bill Jenkins, the real father of Billie-Jo died of throat cancer 18 months ago, very soon after Sion Jenkins was released from his life sentence when a jury could not come to a decision about his guilt. Bill was only 49 and had fought long and hard for justice for Billie-Jo. He and his sister Maggie and their family had to suffer the ordeal of 3 trials and the deaths, probably due to stress and grief, of close family members only to realise that they were never going to get justice.
During the past 15 years we have known many parents and grandparents of murder victims who we have loved and lost, and many who are very ill. Stuart Robe, father of 17 year old Jamie died of heart problems at just 50 years old. Denise Copley, aged just 42 died of a heart attack, her son Jonathan was stabbed in a frenzied attack with his babysitter Rachel Rooney who was also killed. Rachel's Grandfather John Clarke who died within days of Denise. The Grandparents of 15 year old Richard Everitt, stabbed to death at Kings Cross, Irene Iverson, mother and extraordinary campaigner who set up CROP in memory of her 16 year old daughter Fiona who was murdered, Lyn Tiltman, mother of Claire who was killed in Kent, she campaigned for many years for justice. Mick Sullivan, a wonderful man who fought so hard for justive for all victims families afetr his daughter Katie was stabbed by a mental health patient, Beatty Hawkins who died of cancer, Grandmother of sean Lockwood Croft who died on the Marchioness, Anne West mother of Lesley Anne Downey who also died of cancer afetr a very long struggle to make sure Hindley and Brady remained behind bars, Jan Harris stepmother of Timothy who was murdered with his mother the day after his 10th birthday, also by a mental health patient. We want to pay tribute to these and any others we have missed out. We would also like to send our best wishes to Paul Lamplugh and Diana, she has been very ill for a long time after her amazing work trying to ensure young women are safe in whatever environment they are in.
All of the above mentioned people, and more besides have fought incredibly hard to make changes to the law and to try to make things better for all victims families.
Dee, Lyn and Roger
Co-founders MAMAA
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