Mothers who fight for Justice: Sheila Blanco Baroness Doreen Lawrence, Dr Sara Payne MBE, Christine Lord, Kate McCann, Winnie Johnson. All these mothers have fought, and continue to fight, on behalf of their children who have passed away or disappeared in tragic circumstances. A mother demanding justice is a powerful force. She can embarrass establishments, shame perpetrators, change the law – but what is the personal cost of devoting one’s life to ‘justice’ and why do some mothers fight?
Deborah Coughlin writes:
On the 7th anniversary of my friend Mark Blanco’s tragic death (The Guardian 19/10/13) in suspicious circumstances (BBC News) at a party attended by Pete Doherty (IBTimes) I asked his mother Sheila to tell us in her own words why she continues to do just that and if anyone has ever asked her to stop.
This is a case full of twists and turns.
Yes, and even some of the greatest journalists have misrepresented the facts over the years.
Whatever I do will never bring Mark back.
Justice and Truth were central to Mark, he was a philosopher; he believed passionately in the individual, whoever he or she might be or from whatever walk of life they might come from. He is guiding me.
I am determined to secure justice for Mark.
I hope that my persistence may, in some small way, pave the way for others in like circumstances. As the years pass, my resolve becomes greater and it is in equal measure to the outrageous manner in which Mark’s death has been treated.
Emotion should not determine justice or truth.
Though the bond between mother and child is all-embracing, I remain pragmatic and slightly detached in order to view things logically and as far as possible, dispassionately.
The Met Police investigation reeked of corruption and cover up.
The fight is two-fold; against those, the perpetrators, and the gross negligence of the Metropolitan Police. From day one, the investigation was riddled with errors.
No one has ever suggested, to me personally, I stop my campaign.
I balance the hours I work on the case with another life. I have always taught piano and English and derive enormous joy from that though I am now semi-retired.
In a way, we have justice already.
It is only the Met police who can not see or accept the true version of events that night and subsequently. I believe that if you work hard enough and believe in something enough, you can achieve anything.
Police are institutionally homophobic, misogynistic and racist.
Also, they are accountable to no one. A lot of dead wood is still yet to be thrown out.