Margeret Mizen: Anger won't
tear us apart

Murdered Jimmy's parents in moving show of courage

VIDEO: Jimmy Mizen's mother on why she's not bitter

By Daniel Sanderson

THE mother of murdered altar boy Jimmy Mizen yesterday vowed not to allow anger over his death to destroy her family.

Fighting back tears, Margaret, 55, said: "Anger breeds anger and bitterness breeds bitterness and bitterness will destroy my family if I am not careful and I won't allow that to happen."

TRIBUTES: Jimmy Mizen

Comforting his wife, Barry, 56, pleaded with people to look at their values in a bid to cut violent crime on Britain's streets.

Values

Speaking as the News of the World launches a Save Our Streets campaign to tackle crimes which are destroying our society, he said: "It doesn't have to be like this.

"Perhaps we all need to look to ourselves and look to the values we would like and our responses to situations in our life.

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"Sometimes we might be drawn into certain ways of living. It is our choice but change has got to come from all of us."

The pair spoke outside Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic church in Lee, south-east London, where more than 500 people gathered to pay their respects.

Margaret made the point that it was FA Cup Final day and that Jimmy was born on cup final day in 1992 and was "a gorgeous baby".

And she urged people not to harass the family of Jake Fahri—the 19-year-old accused of killing Jimmy at a baker's in Lee.

She added: "We are not in control of everything our children do."

Devastated Margaret explained her Catholic faith had held her together as she tried to come to terms with her shock and loss.

She said: "Without the faith I have at this very moment I would not be standing here now, I would be crumbling."

And she urged: "If you see someone today give them a hug because there is not enough hugs and love in this world and that is what is missing, just more love."

The couple also thanked the local community and the media for their support. They were joined by Jimmy's brothers Danny, 30, Billy, 28, Tommy, 26, Bobby, 24, and Harry, 18, and his sisters Joanne, 35, and Samantha, 21.

Mourners packed the church, where Jimmy was an altar boy, while hundreds more gathered outside under umbrellas in the rain to hear prayers and hymns relayed through speakers.

Margaret and Barry then led mourners on the short walk to the Three Cooks Bakery where Jimmy died the previous Saturday—the day after his 16th birthday.

There, they laid an olive wreath and a single lily.

"Gentle giant" Jimmy was a 6ft 4in rugby-playing GCSE student.

Struggling

His brother Danny yesterday read a message for his friends at St Thomas More Roman Catholic Secondary School in nearby Eltham.

He said: "They're 16 and doing GCSEs. They're finding it just as hard as we are. But when you find it difficult and you're struggling, don't think of Jimmy with sadness. Use him as your inspiration."

Jimmy died in brother Harry's arms from a wound to the neck after a glass plate was smashed over his head. He was trying to protect Harry from a maniac who smashed his way into the shop.

He was the 13th teenager to be killed in London this year.