Mother of four children murdered in arson attack will miss their funerals due to injuries

Brandon, aged eight, Lacie, aged seven, and Lia Pearson, aged three, who were murdered in the attack. Credit: PA

The mother of four children murdered in a petrol bomb attack on her home will not be able to say a final goodbye at their funerals as she continues to suffer injuries from the blaze.

Three-year-old Lia Pearson, eight-year-old Brandon, seven year old Lacie and Demi, 15 will be remembered in a joint funeral at St Paul’s Church in Walkden on Friday, September 14.

Michelle Pearson, 36, was expected to head hundreds of mourners at the service for her children who died in the firebomb attack in Jackson Street, Walkden, Greater Manchester, last December.

But her mother Sandra Lever said on Thursday that due to "unforeseen medical circumstances" her daughter would not be able to attend.

The scene of the fire in Walkden, Greater Manchester. Credit: PA

The mother-of-six, who suffered severe burns in the attack has struggled to come to terms with four of her children dying and has been in hospital since the fire.

Her family said she had wanted to attend the funeral despite still being very poorly after suffering a series of infections that could threaten her life.

But Mrs Lever said in a Facebook post on Thursday morning: "Due to unforeseen medical circumstances Michelle want be able to attend the children’s funeral on Friday".

After dozens of sympathetic responses, Mrs Lever added: "Thanks everyone it is sad but what is best for Michelle".

Brandon, aged eight, Lacie, aged seven, and Lia Pearson, aged three, who were murdered in the attack. Credit: PA

The funeral for all four children will be held on Friday morning at St Paul’s Church in Walkden.

The children were murdered as they slept in their beds after Zak Bolland, 23, and David Worrall, 26, smashed a kitchen window and threw petrol bombs inside in the dead of night.

Bolland’s bottle "exploded" near the stairs, blocking the only exit to the ground floor and trapping the victims upstairs.

Mrs Pearson woke up screaming "Not the kids! Not my kids!" as flames engulfed the house at 5am on December 11.

She was rescued with her youngest daughter Lia, who died in hospital two days later.

All four "died a terrible death" from smoke inhalation and burns, the trial of the killers heard.

Zak Bolland, 23, was jailed for 40 years. Credit: PA

Mrs Pearson’s son Kyle, 17, had been involved in a "petty" feud with Bolland over damage to his £200 car, prompting a series of tit-for-tat attacks.

Bolland and Worrall were given four life sentences for murder after a trial in May and must serve a minimum of 40 and 37 years respectively before parole.

Bolland’s girlfriend Courtney Brierley, 20, was jailed for 21 years for four counts of manslaughter.

Mrs Pearson had made a series of complaints to police and her housing provider Salford Council, asking to be moved.

An investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct is ongoing.