Alice da Silva Aguia’s parents praised for courage in calling for riots to stop
Serena Kennedy, Chief Constable of Merseyside Police, said she hoped those who took part in violent disorder are ‘hanging their head in shame’
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The parents of nine-year-old Alice da Silva Aguiar were praised by a senior police officer for their “courage” in calling for violent riots to stop after their daughter’s death.
Serena Kennedy, Chief Constable of Merseyside Police, was among those who addressed mourners at Alice’s funeral at St Patrick’s Catholic Church in Southport on Sunday.
She told of being “ashamed” that Alice’s father Sergio and mother Alexandra had to “consider” the violent disorder while planning the service, saying she hoped those involved are “hanging their head in shame”.
Addressing the couple, Ms Kennedy said: “You have shown great courage in asking me to be here today to give a message from you, Alice’s family, to say that you do not want there to be any more violence on the streets of the United Kingdom in the name of your daughter.
“I am ashamed and I’m so sorry that you had to even consider this in the planning of the funeral of your beautiful daughter, Alice.
“And I hope that anyone who has taken part in the violent disorder on our streets over the past 13 days is hanging their head in shame at the pain that they have caused you, a grieving family.
“I know that you asked that there is no more violence and that you are now given time as a family to grieve in peace.
“And that our traumatised community is allowed time to heal, the time it needs to start to heal.”
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.