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Walkden fire: Vigil for four siblings killed in arson attack Walkden fire: Mum of four killed children thanks firefighters
(about 14 hours later)
A vigil has been held on the first anniversary of a petrol bomb attack that killed four young siblings. A mother who was badly injured in a fire which killed four of her family has recorded a message to thank firefighters for their efforts.
Demi, Brandon, Lacie and Lia Pearson, who were aged between three and 15, were murdered in the attack on their home in Walkden, Salford. Michelle Pearson's children, Demi, Brandon, Lacie and Lia, were murdered in the attack on their home in Walkden, Salford, on 11 December 2017.
Their mother Michelle was badly injured in the fire and remains in hospital. Her video, recorded from her hospital bed, was played at a vigil on the first anniversary of the petrol bomb attack.
The children's grandmother Sandra Lever said well-wishers had lit the entire street with candles outside their home in memory of the four "little angels". She also thanked the local community for their "generous donations".
'Emotional day'
Demi, 15, her brother, Brandon, aged eight, and sisters, Lacie, seven, and Lia, three, were murdered as they slept in their beds in Jackson Street after Zak Bolland, 23, and David Worrall, 26, threw petrol bombs inside.Demi, 15, her brother, Brandon, aged eight, and sisters, Lacie, seven, and Lia, three, were murdered as they slept in their beds in Jackson Street after Zak Bolland, 23, and David Worrall, 26, threw petrol bombs inside.
It followed a feud with the victims' 17-year-old brother which prompted a series of tit-for-tat attacks. It followed a feud with the victims' 17-year-old brother, which prompted a series of escalating tit-for-tat attacks.
Ms Lever said it had been "quite an emotional day" and a gathering of friends and family at their home in Jackson Street had helped get her through it. In the video, Ms Pearson thanked the firefighters "for what they have done" and the community "for all their generous donations".
"I'm glad everyone has got together again for the first anniversary," she said. Speaking at the vigil, which was held at the family's home, the children's grandmother Sandra Lever said well-wishers had lit the entire street with candles in memory of the four "little angels".
"They've all stuck together for the past 12 months with the funeral and the birthdays. We couldn't have done it without them." She said it had been "quite an emotional day" and a gathering of friends and family at their home in Jackson Street had helped get her through it.
"They've all stuck together for the past 12 months with the funeral and the birthdays. We couldn't have done it without them," she said.
Ms Lever said she hoped to make the memorial an annual event.Ms Lever said she hoped to make the memorial an annual event.
The siblings' mother Mrs Pearson was unable to attend but Ms Lever said she had been to visit her in hospital. Bolland and Worrall were both given four life sentences for murder in May.
"We did go down this afternoon... and said a little prayer with the priest today," Ms Lever said. Courtney Brierley, who was Bolland's girlfriend, was jailed for 21 years for four counts of manslaughter.
Mrs Pearson "had a few tears and a few laughs" with her memories of her children, she added.
Bolland, from Walkden, and Worrall, of no fixed address were both given four life sentences for murder in May.
Bolland was jailed for a minimum of 40 years and Worrall for 37 years.
Courtney Brierley, 20, from Walkden, who was Bolland's girlfriend, was jailed for 21 years for four counts of manslaughter.