Priority is to give family “all moral support they need”
With the UK reeling over the deaths of three children in yesterday’s hideous knife attack in Southport, on Merseyside, Portuguese authorities have confirmed the identity of the Portuguese victim: nine year old Alice da Silva Aguiar.
José Cesario, Secretary of State for the Portuguese Communities, told reporters this afternoon: “Unfortunately a child who is the daughter of Portuguese parents originally from Madeira has died. She was born on October 14 2014 and was nine years old.
“She was one of the victims of this awful crime. The family lives in Southport. The parents are in a state of shock. We are going to continue to give them the support they need. We are in direct contact with an aunt of the young girl.
“The priority is to give them all the moral support they need, and afterwards things depend on the family and where they want to hold the funeral.”
The aunt in Madeira has written over social media: “You were just an innocent child, a happy smiley girl with a bright life ahead of you which a despicable human being took away from you, without pity, for no reason.
“Look after your mum and dad who are suffering, who are desolate and broken. Fly high our little star. I love you.”
And her parents have taken part in a tribute written by all three parents of the children killed, saying: “Keep smiling and dancing like you love to do our Princess, like we said before to you, you’re always our princess and no one would change that. Love from your Hero Daddy and Mummy”.
Father John Heneghan, who led Alice’s first communion, has described her as a “beautiful girl from a lovely family“, saying he remembers her smiling at Mass last Sunday, just 24 hours before the attack that claimed her life.
“It is hearbreaking”, he told the Telegraph. “She was a lovely, lovely girl with a radiant smile. At the first communion serve, she just had this look of happiness. It was the most natural, happy smile. We’re heartbroken for all these families”.
According to the Telegraph, a GoFundMe page has so far raised £2,100 for Alice’s family.
The total as this text went up online had actually reached £3,943. The page has been set up by the Benbridge Care Group, where Alice’s mother works. “Alice is the daughter of one of our team here & she has been a part of the Good Companions family since she was a baby, joining in with many of our activities & events with our families & staff.
Source material: LUSA/ Telegraph/ Gofundme
