Latest news with #AliceAguiar
BBC News
12-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Southport victims garden plan delayed after council meeting chaos
Police were called to a chaotic Sefton Council meeting that had to abandoned after protestors began "screaming and shouting" at local authority was due to discuss plans for a major revamp of Southport's Town Hall gardens in memory of Elsie Dot Stancombe, Alice Aguiar and Bebe King, when the protest took began when a member of the public about whether the council had turned down any applications for 5G masts on health grounds, before descending into a row. The Mayor of Sefton June Burns halted proceedings after one of the protestors shouted at a councillor to "shut up". People in the public gallery were asking questions about issues including immigration, net zero and 5G masts but became increasingly frustrated and vocal about the responses they were mayor adjourned the meeting on Thursday before much of the agenda could be meeting re-started to enable a group of teenagers to present a petition they had launched to get a BMX park built, but was then halted again and the police of the public shouted "shame on you" and "cowards" as the councillors left the chamber at the meeting on Thursday night. One of the protestors was heard making derogatory comments about a female meeting had to be abandoned before approval could be given to plans to create a new family-friendly space in the Town Hall gardens on Lord this year, the families of the three young girls who were murdered in last summer's knife attacks secured funding from the combined authority and the government for the project. 'Sad moment' Mike Prendergast, leader of the Conservative opposition group, said: "As an opposition councillor, I don't always like the answer that I am given but I don't scream and shout during the meeting to get my point across."He said there "has to be a process and a procedure and we want to get people more engaged in politics" but what happened at the meeting " isn't going to help with that".Prendergast said: "We wanted to ask questions on behalf of the people of Southport but that's now being delayed because a small number of people decided to take it upon themselves to decide that their opinions were more important than other people's."The council's Liberal Democrat group issued a statement which said the suspension of the meeting marked a "sad moment for local democracy" in said: "Residents deserve and need to have their say but it has to be conducted in the right forum. "Shouting from the gallery just throws meetings into disarray and means no one can be heard properly."Sefton's next full council meeting will take place in September. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
BBC News
09-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Southport killer's brother denied full inquiry access
The brother of Southport killer Axel Rudakubana will be blocked from accessing sensitive evidence about the victims of the attack after their families expressed "grave concerns" to a public inquiry. Dion Rudakubana has been listed as a core participant in the Southport Inquiry, who are usually legally represented and are able to ask questions of participants - those deemed to have a "significant interest" in proceedings - are usually entitled to be given all the of the inquiry Sir Adrian Fulford, said he was "unreservedly persuaded" that allowing the killer's brother full access would act as a "major obstacle" for the families of the victims. But he stated this should not infer any criticism of Mr families whose children were injured in the Southport attack last year are giving evidence to the public inquiryThe two-phase inquiry is taking place at Liverpool Town is examining events surrounding the murders of Alice Aguiar, nine; Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven; and six-year-old Bebe King, as well as the attempted murders of eight other children and two adults. Some of the families and one adult victim had expressed concern about Dion Rudakubana being able to listen to impact statements about the effects of 29 July 2024 - and commemorative pen portraits about the children involved. In a ruling published by the inquiry, Sir Adrian, a retired senior judge, wrote: "These anxieties have been expressed in the strongest terms." He said the victims and families were concerned about Mr Rudakubana being able to learn their identities and "highly sensitive and distressing information about the injuries sustained and medical treatment".Sir Adrian said that while it was usual that core participants had full access to all the evidence disclosed and were able to attend all parts of the hearing, he had "broad discretion" as chairman of the inquiry. He also stressed that his decision should not be taken as any criticism of Dion Rudakubana and added that no "adverse inference" should be drawn. "The basis of this ruling is the wholly understandable impacts on the victims and their families, all of whom are traumatised, of a member of [Rudakubana's] family having access to sensitive materials concerning the detail of the attack and its impact on the victims," he ruled that Dion Rudakubana would not have access to any advanced disclosure of evidence from after the time his brother got into the taxi that took him to the scene of the attack in Southport's Hart will also not be served with the victim impact statements or pen portraits of the children attacked, and will not be permitted to attend the inquiry or listen over a video link to those parts of the proceedings. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram, and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
BBC News
08-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Southport attack 'one of the most egregious crimes' inquiry hears
The Southport murders have been described as "one of the most egregious crimes in our country's history" as a public inquiry inquiry will examine how the "deteriorating and deeply troubling behaviour" of Axel Rudakubana, who went on to "cause such devastation" on 29 July 2024, was dealt with by public Aguiar, nine; Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven and six-year-old Bebe King died while eight other children and two adults were seriously wounded during the attacks at a dance studio in the Merseyside town. The first live hearings have now begun at Liverpool Town Hall, chaired by retired senior judge Sir Adrian Fulford, who said he was committed to delivering "sensible and achievable" recommendations. Sir Adrian told a council chamber packed with legal representatives, lawyers, the media and the public that "ordinary language simply fails to reflect the enormity of what [Rudakubana] did."None of the most powerful adjectives even begin to suffice."There are no words that adequately describe what occurred and I am not going to try, and then fail, to find them." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram, and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
BBC News
08-07-2025
- BBC News
Southport attack: Families ask for no floral tributes one year on
The families of the Southport victims and survivors have asked for people not to leave flowers at the scene to mark the first anniversary of the attack. An open letter from Sefton Council said no large-scale public gatherings or vigils were planned and instead local spaces were being identified for people to go and pay their respects. The council said there would be a three-minute silence from 15:00 BST on 29 July and asked "everyone to join with us wherever you may be". Alice Aguiar, aged nine, Elsie Dot Stancombe, aged seven, and Bebe King, aged six, were murdered at a dance workshop on Hart Street by Axel Rudakubana, then aged 17. Eight other children and two adults were seriously injured in the knife attack before Rudakubana, from Banks in Lancashire, was arrested. He was jailed for life with a minimum term of 52 years in January after admitting three counts of murder, 10 of attempted murder, producing the biological toxin ricin and a terrorism offence. Sefton Council said a "significant" amount of planning and consultation had gone into how the first anniversary of the attack would be marked. Addressing the public, the council said: "Your compassion has been a source of comfort to all affected through their darkest days. "The shared grief, countless acts of kindness and especially the commitment to honouring the memory of Alice, Bebe, and Elsie have meant more than words can express."This period is incredibly hard for the families of Alice, Bebe and Elsie and all of those children and adults injured or who suffered lifelong psychological impact of witnessing the attack, and we acknowledge the huge impact on their lives too."It added: "We must not forget the local people who rushed to support and to our emergency responders. They all remain always in our thoughts."The council urged that "in respect of this deeply personal time" no floral tributes be laid in Hart Street or at any school settings linked to any of the children involved. Instead, it said, it encouraged people to donate to local causes including The Southport Stronger Together Appeal, Elsie's Story, Bebe's Hive, Hope's Help, Alice's Wonderance, The Southport Hesketh Round Table and North West Air open letter said faith and community leaders had been consulted on providing spaces within neighbourhoods for local people to mark the date in their own on public buildings both in Southport and the entire Liverpool City Region will be lowered to half-mast, it added. A public inquiry into the circumstances before and around the attack, as well as looking at how young people are drawn into "extreme violence" will open at Liverpool Town Hall on Tuesday afternoon. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram, and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
BBC News
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Town Hall gardens £10m revamp inspired by Southport victims
Southport's Town Hall gardens are to undergo a major £10m revamp inspired by Elsie Dot Stancombe, Alice Aguiar, and Bebe aged seven, Alice, nine, and Bebe, six, were killed in the Southport knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in shared love of dance, music and the arts have inspired the vision for a new town square and community space which will act as a "thank you" to people of Southport for their support in the aftermath of the families hope the space in the heart of the town centre "will become a legacy inspired by our three beautiful and amazing girls" and loved by many generations to come. Elsie, Alice and Bebe's families envision the space as a safe and joyful place, full of energy and creative expression, particularly for Southport's younger said the project, which will be a platform for performers and include regular family-friendly events, was "rooted in love, resilience and unity"."It will be a place of joy, hope and community. A vibrant place where children and families can feel safe, connected and celebrated in the heart of our town," the families said."We wanted to find a way to thank the people of Southport for standing shoulder to shoulder with us.""Your compassion has never wavered and your strength has helped carry us forward." Sefton Council and Liverpool City Region Combined Authority have both provided £2.5m for the project with the government allocating £5m to the families thanked Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and Sefton Council as well as Liverpool City Region Combined Authority "for listening to our voices and helping us achieve the funding we need for this project".They added: "This is only the beginning, and we all walk forward together with our amazing community in Southport, with purpose and hope."Rayner said: "The strength of everyone in Southport has been beyond words and I am delighted we are able to help with the families' vision to give back to that amazing community, who continue to give everything they can to those families and victims."We are committing £5m to help create a safe community space for connection, reflection, and renewal - a lasting symbol of hope, guided by the strength of the families and wider community."Leader of Sefton Council, councillor Marion Atkinson, said: "A space for joy, culture, and togetherness will reflect Elsie, Alice, and Bebe's vibrancy in a beautifully positive way. "The Town Hall gardens and the Atkinson were where the community came together in their grief, demonstrating Southport's incredible strength."It was a place of togetherness then, it is a place of togetherness now, and it will be for years to come."The regeneration will create a dynamic, family-friendly stage for creativity, celebrating the love for dance and the arts that meant so much to the girls."Southport's MP Patrick Hurley said: "This legacy project, to renovate, refurbish and remodel the gardens outside The Atkinson will be a nod to their memory and a flare of bright optimism for the future of Southport."He said the community gathered "spontaneously and collectively" in the gardens outside The Atkinson, "standing defiantly in the face of evil".The Labour MP added: "So it is fitting that as time goes on, these gardens are at the heart of the proposal for the renewal of Southport, not just to acknowledge the awful events of July, but more importantly, to recognise the spirit of the town, its people and the families of those affected in bringing Southport back into the light." Metro mayor of Liverpool City Region, Steve Rotheram, said: "Few places capture the heart and soul of a community quite like Southport's Town Hall gardens."It became a place of reflection, resilience and unity where thousands came together to grieve, to support one another, and to stand as one."He said: "This regeneration is a powerful opportunity to give something back to that same community; a lasting symbol of hope and joy."By putting children, families and the arts at its core, we're creating a space that honours the memory of Elsie, Alice and Bebe in the most meaningful way: by inspiring future generations." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
