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| Lee Rigby's mother criticises lack of Ministry of Defence support | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The mother of murdered soldier Lee Rigby has said the Ministry of Defence failed to support her family. | The mother of murdered soldier Lee Rigby has said the Ministry of Defence failed to support her family. |
| Lyn Rigby told the Victoria Derbyshire programme only her son's next of kin - his partner - received help, and "the main charities didn't want to know". | Lyn Rigby told the Victoria Derbyshire programme only her son's next of kin - his partner - received help, and "the main charities didn't want to know". |
| She said the recent attacks in London and Manchester had "brought everything back", but she had received no contact from the MoD to "check we're OK". | She said the recent attacks in London and Manchester had "brought everything back", but she had received no contact from the MoD to "check we're OK". |
| The MoD said it does its "utmost" to help families who have lost loved ones. | The MoD said it does its "utmost" to help families who have lost loved ones. |
| 'Left by the wayside' | 'Left by the wayside' |
| Lee Rigby was killed outside Woolwich Barracks in south-east London in May 2013, when Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale drove into the 25-year-old before hacking him to death. | Lee Rigby was killed outside Woolwich Barracks in south-east London in May 2013, when Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale drove into the 25-year-old before hacking him to death. |
| Adebolajo later claimed he was a "soldier of Allah". Both were found guilty of murder. | Adebolajo later claimed he was a "soldier of Allah". Both were found guilty of murder. |
| Ms Rigby told the BBC: "The support we had, was from people we'd never met - the public. | Ms Rigby told the BBC: "The support we had, was from people we'd never met - the public. |
| "The Ministry of Defence... barely support people who aren't listed as next of kin. The main charities didn't want to know. | "The Ministry of Defence... barely support people who aren't listed as next of kin. The main charities didn't want to know. |
| "Some families are 10 years on and they still haven't had support," she added. | "Some families are 10 years on and they still haven't had support," she added. |
| "When Lee lost comrades in Afghanistan, he'd seen mums left by the wayside." | "When Lee lost comrades in Afghanistan, he'd seen mums left by the wayside." |
| The recent terror attack in Manchester, in which 22 people were killed, took place on the fourth anniversary of Fusilier Rigby's death. | The recent terror attack in Manchester, in which 22 people were killed, took place on the fourth anniversary of Fusilier Rigby's death. |
| Ms Rigby - who lives in Manchester - said she was with family, remembering and celebrating her son's life, when she heard about the bombing. | Ms Rigby - who lives in Manchester - said she was with family, remembering and celebrating her son's life, when she heard about the bombing. |
| "I just fell on to the settee, I was so heartbroken. | "I just fell on to the settee, I was so heartbroken. |
| "There are so many parents who are left now without their children, having to go through what we've been through. | "There are so many parents who are left now without their children, having to go through what we've been through. |
| "All I can do is send our sincere condolences." | "All I can do is send our sincere condolences." |
| She said one of her daughters had now sought counselling again, after the events brought back memories of Fusilier Rigby's murder. | She said one of her daughters had now sought counselling again, after the events brought back memories of Fusilier Rigby's murder. |
| Ms Rigby added she has had "no contact from the Army or anyone - the MoD - after the Manchester bombing". | Ms Rigby added she has had "no contact from the Army or anyone - the MoD - after the Manchester bombing". |
| "Not a call to check we're OK or anything like that." | "Not a call to check we're OK or anything like that." |
| 'I want to curl up' | 'I want to curl up' |
| She said the London Bridge terror attack in June - in which three men hit pedestrians with a van before carrying out knife attacks - was "like Lee's murder all over again". | She said the London Bridge terror attack in June - in which three men hit pedestrians with a van before carrying out knife attacks - was "like Lee's murder all over again". |
| "I didn't want to leave the house. I wanted to curl up in a corner and not leave." | "I didn't want to leave the house. I wanted to curl up in a corner and not leave." |
| She added: "I do get angry, but you can't give in to these people. You can't let them win." | She added: "I do get angry, but you can't give in to these people. You can't let them win." |
| Ms Rigby has now set up a retreat, Lee Rigby House, where the families of fallen soldiers can go for support - and to grieve in peace away from the media. | Ms Rigby has now set up a retreat, Lee Rigby House, where the families of fallen soldiers can go for support - and to grieve in peace away from the media. |
| "Lee would have wanted us to do this, for the families and the siblings," she said. | "Lee would have wanted us to do this, for the families and the siblings," she said. |
| "We've got a long list of families who want to stay at the house." | "We've got a long list of families who want to stay at the house." |
| Ms Rigby hopes the house - which will have space for two families to stay at a time - will open in early September, and wants it to become "a lasting legacy for Lee". | Ms Rigby hopes the house - which will have space for two families to stay at a time - will open in early September, and wants it to become "a lasting legacy for Lee". |
| There are also plans to open another house for veterans. | There are also plans to open another house for veterans. |
| She added: "People think you're strong on the outside when you're dying on the inside. | She added: "People think you're strong on the outside when you're dying on the inside. |
| "We miss him so much every single day. | "We miss him so much every single day. |
| "The kids are saying, 'You're not the same person that you were before Lee died'. That's heartbreaking." | "The kids are saying, 'You're not the same person that you were before Lee died'. That's heartbreaking." |
| An MoD spokesman said: "We do our utmost to support Armed Forces families that have lost loved ones, providing trained visiting officers who offer guidance on accessing help, as well as a range of support from individual regiments, including financial aid. | An MoD spokesman said: "We do our utmost to support Armed Forces families that have lost loved ones, providing trained visiting officers who offer guidance on accessing help, as well as a range of support from individual regiments, including financial aid. |
| "Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of Drummer Lee Rigby." | "Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of Drummer Lee Rigby." |
| Watch the Victoria Derbyshire programme on weekdays between 09:00 and 11:00 BST on BBC Two and the BBC News Channel. | Watch the Victoria Derbyshire programme on weekdays between 09:00 and 11:00 BST on BBC Two and the BBC News Channel. |