Family of Kory McCrimmon vow 'enough is enough' at Glasgow march against knife crime
Hundreds turned out to support the McCrimmon family and families of other victims who have lost loved ones to violent crime.
The family of Kory McCrimmon said "enough is enough" as they vowed to tackle knife crime on Scotland's streets.
Kory, 16, died after an attack involving a bladed weapon on May 31, 2024. He was found seriously injured in Greenfield Park in the east end of Glasgow.
His parents Neil and Elizabeth and brother Jamie were joined by friends, family and members of the community for the Parents Against Knives march through Glasgow on Sunday.
Campaigners, including Kory's aunt Jackie McTaggart wore t-shirts with a picture of the schoolboy and held banners as they made a six mile journey from Ibrox to Celtic Park.
The march comes in the wake of the deaths of teenagers Amen Teklay and Kayden Moy in separate incidents this year. The tragedies have taken place amid the Record's Our Kids ... Our Future campaign, which was launched two years ago in response to a youth violence epidemic.
Kory's mum Elizabeth McCrimmon told the Record: 'There have been too many deaths in the west of Scotland. 'Three young children have been lost in a year, enough is enough. The system is broken. 'Everytime I see another family go through what we've been through it's horrible. You wouldn't wish it on anyone. We're still going through the pain of losing Kory."
His brother Jamie, 23, branded knife crime an epidemic as he called for action.
He said: 'Too much, too many, no more.
'Knife crime is an epidemic that doesn't seem to be stopping and nobody really seems to care. 'I think here today with everybody showing it up. It sends a clear message that it needs to stop.
"Parents don't have control of their children. Police don't have control. Something needs to be done to stop this for good.
Campaigner Jackie McTaggart, Kory's aunt, said the family hope the march could send a clear message to Holyrood that Scotland wants change.
She called for a meeting with John Swinney and Angela Constance.
She said: "We want to spare families from going through what we are.
"There are many families here who have lost loved ones to violent crime.
"We don't want to see any more children being lost.
We want to sit down with John Swinney and the Justice Secretary. 'We hope today draws attention to this major issue. We hope it is seen far and wide that we've had enough. We need to see change now.'
A 14-year-old was sentenced to five years detention over the death of Kory.
Since then, on March 5 15-year-old Amen in the Maryhill area of Glasgow. Two boys aged 14 and 16 have appeared in court charged with murder.
Last month 16-year-old Kayden Moy was found seriously injured on Irvine beach in North Ayrshire on May 17.
A 14-year-old boy and two 17-year-old boys have appeared in court charged with murder following his death.
Kate Wallace, chief executive of Victim Support Scotland, said: 'Too many lives are being devastated by knife crime in Scotland.
'Behind every statistic, hundreds of lives are irreversibly impacted with tragic consequences for everyone involved; family, friends, siblings, school mates, and the wider communities in which we all live.
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'We support the Parents Against Knives walk, organised entirely by the McCrimmon family in memory of their son Kory, which will undoubtedly help draw attention to this growing crisis.
'These are complex and sensitive situations which require a multi-agency response from the Scottish Government, victim support organisations, police, social work, youth work and others to work together to tackle knife crime and the devastation it causes. People across Scotland deserve to feel safe in their own communities.'
The Scottish Government has been contacted for comment.
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