Manchester Arena Inquiry: Relatives present 'pen portraits' for second day

The family of a 15-year-old girl killed in the Manchester Arena bombing have shared how their "hearts have been shattered into a million pieces".

The loved ones of Megan Hurley presented a "pen portrait" of their "amazing girl" during the second week of the inquiry into the 2017 attack.

The portraits give each family the chance to present an insight into the lives of those who died.

Twenty-two people died when a bomb was detonated as people left the arena.

A slideshow of photographs documenting Megan's life were displayed on screen at Manchester Magistrates' Court as the family's lawyer read out words from her loved ones.

"Since the horrendous day in May 2017 our lives have been ruined for forever," her family wrote in their statement.

"Our hearts have been shattered into a million pieces. The pain we feel day in and day out, year upon year.

"Losing Megan has left an enormous and irreparable void in our lives. We miss you more than words can say, Megan.

"You will forever be our beautiful beauty queen."

Deborah Hutchinson, mother of 19-year-old Courtney Boyle, from Gateshead, told the inquiry that she can still see her daughter's smile as she left the car that night.

"I will never forget the laughing in the car. As she left to get into the foyer she was complaining," she added.

"She was cold, all wrapped up in a blanket which was nothing unusual for Courtney."

"She had a beautiful heart and always put others first," she said.

Kelly Brewster was a "larger than life" character" despite being "tiny at just 5ft", her family told the inquiry.

The 32-year-old, from Sheffield, was "fun-loving, kind and thoughtful... but everyone knew she had to be taken seriously when she put her sky-scraper heels on".

The family said she was "so excited" on the day of the Ariana Grande concert because her and her "soulmate" Ian Winslow had had an offer accepted on a new four-bedroom home that morning.

They said the couple were planning to have a baby and had already planned which room was going to be Ian's daughter's bedroom and the nursery.

"Kelly was the happiest she had ever been," the inquiry heard.

Figen Murray, the mother of Martyn Hett, also presented a "pen portrait" to the inquiry.

She said the 29-year-old, from Stockport, Greater Manchester, had "the most incredible passion for life" and an "energy that was exhausting at times" living at "100 miles an hour".

"He had this catching charisma about him," she said. "Everybody just loved him."

"He was proud of who he was, he believed in who he was."

She said his loss left "this absolutely massive, gaping hole inside my soul."

On Monday, the inquiry heard testimony from Martyn's father Paul, along with tributes to John Atkinson, 28, from Bury, Eilidh MacLeod, 14, from the Isle of Barra, and Sorrell Leczkowski, 14, from Leeds.

The inquiry comes more than three years after the bombing at the end of an Ariana Grande concert, which left hundreds more injured.

It was due to start in June, but was delayed by the trial of Salman Abedi's brother Hashem, who was jailed for at least 55 years for 22 murders on 20 August.

The commemorative hearings are expected to conclude on 23 September.

The inquiry was set up to examine the background to the attack and the response of the emergency services.

Its chairman, Sir John Saunders, will make a report and recommendations once all the evidence has been heard, which is expected to take up to six months.

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