Mother of son who was killed in the Nottingham attacks speaks of her grief and fight for justice

• Ahead of the 2nd anniversary of the Nottingham attacks tomorrow, Emma Webber has spoken to our correspondent Phil Brewster.

A mother whose son was killed during the Nottingham attacks has spoken about the heartache she still feels.

19-year-old Barnaby Webber, 19-year-old Grace O'Malley-Kumar and school caretaker Ian Coates were killed in June 2023.

Valdo Calocane, who had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia before the attacks, was sentenced to an indefinite hospital order in January 2024, after admitting manslaughter by diminished responsibility and attempted murder.

For the past two years, Barnaby's mother Emma says she has been on a rollercoaster of emotions, from despair to anger and mental exhaustion.

Ahead of the 2nd anniversary of the attacks tomorrow (13th June), Emma has spoken of her grief and ongoing fight for justice.

Emma said: "It's very difficult to see groups of students, especially boys. And ironically, sometimes from behind because you let yourself wish, potentially, it might be him. Such is the sadness and the power of that loss.

She recalls the heartache of having to say goodbye to her child just a month after his death.

Emma added: "It's the wrong order of events. And to have to even think about planning your own child's send-off - we called Barney's funeral at the time - is unfathomable."

To help navigate her way through the grief, Emma has weekly intense trauma therapy sessions. She's also become a patron of the new National Grief Advice Service based at Grantham in Lincolnshire.

Said said: "If it helps other people to know that it's ok, that other people are going through stuff too, and it's ok to reach out. It's ok to have terrible days. It's ok to have those duvet days, then I'm really honoured to do that."

Last year, on the 1st anniversary of the attacks, 100s of people gathered at Nottingham University where Barnaby and Grace were students for a special memorial service.

Earlier, Barnaby's father, David and brother Charlie, and Grace O'Malley-Kumar's parents visited the spot where they were killed to lay flowers.

It was something Emma found too painful to endure then. But something she's determined to remedy tomorrow.

The families of Barnaby Webber, Grace O'Malley-Kumar and Ian Coates have been fighting for answers as to how Calocane, who has paranoid schizophrenia, was free to kill.

Earlier this year, the Prime Minister announced there would be a public inquiry into the attacks.

The families of the Nottingham attack victims say they've told the Health Secretary they want the names of staff involved in treating killer Valdo Calocane to be made public.

In February, a report into Calocane's care detailed how he was not forced to have long-lasting antipsychotic medication because he did not like needles. The families say they want the health staff involved to be held accountable.

Today, during a visit to the Royal Derby Hospital where he met staff and patients to speak about NHS waiting times, Wes Streeting told ITV News Central - he would consider the request.

He said: "I've seen too many examples of where people have put protecting the reputation of the NHS or individual hospitals over protecting patients and I'm calling time on that kind of culture.

"So, I am naturally in more favour of transparency, what I've got to way up in this case is in terms of naming individual clinicians involved in the care of Valdo Calocane, whether I'd actually be creating a different sort of risk, which is a risk when clinicians make mistakes which they will that they don't come forward or when people are worried when they don't speak up.

"So, that's what I'm weighing up, it is not a straightforward decision, but I've listened to the families this week and I'm now going to consult with NHS leaders and I will be reporting back on a decision in the coming weeks."

Emma said they get strength and solace from the care and compassion from the community and others.

She said they still get letters and messages from people in and around Nottingham to let them know they are thinking of them.

Next month, Barnaby and Grace would've graduated from the University of Nottingham and an event will take place to give them honorary degrees. Emma said she may not attend as it would be too painful.

The victims' families are welcoming anyone who wants to join them on a memorial walk tomorrow.

They are being invited to consider wearing something green or gold, the university's sports colours, or red, the shirt colour of Ian Coates' beloved football team, Nottingham Forest.

The theme is a day of quiet reflection. A day to say to three people whose lives were brutally cut short, you may be gone, but you'll never be forgotten.

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