Walkden fire victims remembered, one year on

The four children who died in the Walkden fire will be remembered tonight in a vigil

Demi, Lia, Lacie and Brandon Pearson, tragically died in a house fire one year ago today.

The service, organised by their grandmother, Sandra Lever, will occur outside their family home on Jackson Street, Walkden, from 6:30pm.

On the night of the fire, two petrol bombs were thrown into the home which resulted in the four children losing their lives as they slept in the early hours of the morning.

Their mother, Michelle Pearson, was badly injured and was unable to attend her children’s funerals due to medical complications, and is still in hospital recovering one year on.

The public are invited to light candles, lay flowers and attach messages to a Christmas tree outside the home to show their respects. A slideshow featuring the four children will be played throughout the night, for the public to see the children.

There was another memorial service held on Sunday 9th December, to raise money for the Wythenshawe Burns unit, the same hospital that have saved Michelle’s life on numerous occasions due to her extensive burns.

Held at the British Legion in Walkden, there was an auction of a Manchester United football, with the bid starting at £50, and eventually being sold for £150.

Members of the community and business’ both helped with fundraising for the event. Blades barbers, Le Boutique, Liberty Hair design and Costa Coffee all contributed to the event, which included a raffle and an appearance of Santa for the children in attendance.

Members of the community were also invited to attend the funerals a year ago to pay their respects to the arson attack victims, who died after two lit petrol bombs were thrown inside the home at around 5am.

While Demi Pearson, 15, her brother Brandon, 8, and her sister Lacie, 7, were pronounced dead on the day of the fire, the youngest sibling, Lia, 3, died in hospital two days after the fire. Lia was rescued by her mother Michelle, but doctors were unfortunately not able to save her.

Zak Bolland, 23, admitted causing the fire, and was sentenced to a life sentence with a minimum of 40 years. His girlfriend, Courtney Brierley was given 21 years in a young offenders’ institution. David Worsall was also given a life sentence with a minimum of 37 years.