|
|
 |
| |
Martin Dinnegan’s mother, Lorraine |
‘I know that one day I’ll see Martin again’
THE mother of dead Islington teenager Martin Dinnegan said this week she would be prepared to help launch a nationwide campaign against the scourge of knife crime.
Nutritionist Lorraine Dinnegan was responding to a wave of concern and grief at the death of her 14-year-old son that has spread from the local Holloway community to the country at large.
She revealed that she is writing a letter, to be presented to Downing Street by Islington North MP Jeremy Corbyn, putting forward her ideas about how to deal with terror of knife wielding young people.
Next Tuesday hundreds are expected to attend a Mass for Peace at St Mellitus church, Finsbury Park at 6.30pm.
A walk will follow it to the scene of Martin’s death at the corner of Axminister Road junction with Tollington Way, where there will be a silent vigil. An entire wall at the site of the incident is covered with bouquets of flowers and messages from grieving family, friends and members of the community.
The call for a campaign against knives in the street was suggested at Monday night’s Tollington Park Neighbourhood Watch meeting by anxious residents concerned about the increase of the problem nationwide.
Mr Dinnegan said: “If there’s anything I could do to make the community a safer place then I would do it.
“I know that Martin’s death has touched the whole of Britain.”
Talking about her letter to Downing Street she said: “I’ll be saying that a lot of people have spoken to me about their fears about letting their children go out.
“I intend to suggest that there should be a severe form of punishment against anyone carrying a knife, let alone thinking of using one. There has got to be a proper deterrent if we are going to feel safe in the community.”
She added that the local community has been very strong and supportive and the government needs to help and sustain this movement.
“We need a partnership with everyone working together to remove knives from the streets.”
How do she and James her stonemason husband cope? She has three other sons James, 20, Anthony, 18, and Gerald, 12, and daughters Lorraine, 11, and Leanne six.
She said: “My children are keeping me strong. If I know that they are strong then I’ll be strong. And vice versa, if they see me and James being strong then they will be strong. That’s keeping us going – along with our faith.
“At least I know that Martin is safe now and can’t be harmed anymore. And I know that one day I’ll be seeing him again. Meanwhile I have to be positive.”
A private mass for Year 9 St Aloysius school friends and teachers was held yesterday Thursday at Joseph’s church, Highgate.
“It was really personal and very moving,” Mr Dinnegan said.
Jeremy Corbyn MP said: “I’m sad and devastated for the Dinnegan family but at the same time impressed by their strength and courage at this time.
“I’m also impressed by the support and solidarity that they have got from their own family and friends.
“The entire community has responded magnificently with an absolute determination that we will stamp out knife crime.”
|
 |
|
| |
| Your Comments: |
| |
| |
| |
|
|
|
