Our brave daughter’s fears are ‘painfully real’ nowpublished at 11:47 British Summer Time
Jonny Humphries
Reporting from the inquiry
The mother of child C1 describes her daughter as “a beautiful, articulate, fun loving little girl”.
“We call her ‘our little hippie’ because she was always completely carefree,” the mother tells the inquiry.
“She has boundless creative energy and is often barefoot. She is rarely the right way up, she cartwheels in the garden, the park, down the street and even the Tesco shopping aisle.
“She is deeply intuitive of others. She trusts herself and has always had a strong sense of who she is.”
The mother recalls that before last summer “we would say ‘feel the fear and do it anyway’.
“Turn the fear of doing something new into excitement and go for it, you won’t regret it, we would say.
“We no longer say that.”
The mother says that her daughter’s fears are “painfully real” now. The words the parents use has adapted.
“Instead, we say ‘we can do hard things’ and ‘teamwork makes the dream work’.”
She recalls that her daughter loved adventure and would try everything. “She went into the world ready to explore and without hesitation, because she believed, rightfully, that she would be safe,” she adds.
“She does not live that way anymore.
I am here today to share some of her story and journey.
“I want to tell you of her bravery and strength and how hard she is fighting, still now to survive.
I am sharing these deeply personal moments, because you are responsible for what happens next. This inquiry must bring meaningful, substantial change to ensure no child will ever share her experience again. To ensure the
safety of our children.
“I want you to be in no doubt of the consequences of this horrific attack and what life now looks like for our daughter.
I expect the weight of responsibility you hold to be felt in every question you ask and every recommendation you make.