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| Alan Henning's family 'extremely proud' | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The widow of murdered aid worker Alan Henning has said his family is "proud", but still struggling to come to terms with his death. | |
| Family and friends are attending a private service at Eccles Parish Church in Eccles, Greater Manchester. | |
| The 47-year old taxi driver was delivering aid to Syria in December when he was kidnapped and then held hostage by Islamic State militants. | The 47-year old taxi driver was delivering aid to Syria in December when he was kidnapped and then held hostage by Islamic State militants. |
| Barbara Henning said her husband's death had left the family "devastated". | Barbara Henning said her husband's death had left the family "devastated". |
| A video purporting to show Mr Henning being beheaded was posted on the internet in October. | A video purporting to show Mr Henning being beheaded was posted on the internet in October. |
| At the time, he was the fourth western hostage to be murdered by IS. | At the time, he was the fourth western hostage to be murdered by IS. |
| Similar to previous videos, it featured a militant with an apparently British accent, known in the UK media as "Jihadi John". | |
| In a statement prior to the memorial service, Mrs Henning said her husband's death, "caused by a senseless act of barbarity, has left family and friends devastated and worst of all, his children without their loving, funny and amazing dad". | |
| She said the couple's children Lucy and Adam "cannot come to terms with why a person would carry out such an act on a fellow human being". | She said the couple's children Lucy and Adam "cannot come to terms with why a person would carry out such an act on a fellow human being". |
| "Alan was a peaceful, selfless man who left his family in the UK at Christmas 2013 to drive in a convoy all the way to Syria with his Muslim colleagues and friends to help those most in need," she said. | "Alan was a peaceful, selfless man who left his family in the UK at Christmas 2013 to drive in a convoy all the way to Syria with his Muslim colleagues and friends to help those most in need," she said. |
| "We as a family are extremely proud of him. | "We as a family are extremely proud of him. |
| "Lucy and Adam understood why he had to go, he had explained to them how he had seen children with nothing, living in tents and queuing for food and water and how much harder it was for them in the middle of winter. Some of these children had lost their entire families." | "Lucy and Adam understood why he had to go, he had explained to them how he had seen children with nothing, living in tents and queuing for food and water and how much harder it was for them in the middle of winter. Some of these children had lost their entire families." |
| Reverend Cyprian Yobera, who is carrying out the service, said it was a "celebration" of Mr Henning's life but "as close to a funeral service as we can get". | |
| "It is hoped by the family that this will bring closure. They are on a journey coming to terms with what happened to their dad. They are really proud of him," he said. | |
| Mrs Henning went on: "On behalf of the entire family, I want to thank everyone who campaigned for Alan's release, who held vigils to pray for his safe return and who condemned those who took him. | |
| "Your efforts were a great support to us, and we take comfort in knowing how many people stood beside us in hoping for the best... | "Your efforts were a great support to us, and we take comfort in knowing how many people stood beside us in hoping for the best... |
| "I only hope that we can bring these people to justice, or that they receive the justice they deserve in the next life. | "I only hope that we can bring these people to justice, or that they receive the justice they deserve in the next life. |
| "No god would ever condone the killing of innocent people." | "No god would ever condone the killing of innocent people." |
| A memorial service was also held in October at Manchester's British Muslim Heritage Centre and was attended by hundreds of people, including faith and political leaders. | A memorial service was also held in October at Manchester's British Muslim Heritage Centre and was attended by hundreds of people, including faith and political leaders. |
| More than £30,000 has been raised for Mr Henning's family by his Muslim colleagues and friends. | |
| Prime Minister David Cameron is also considering recognising Mr Henning with a national honour following a request by his MP, Barbara Keeley. | Prime Minister David Cameron is also considering recognising Mr Henning with a national honour following a request by his MP, Barbara Keeley. |