Families begin emotional tributes to Manchester Arena attack victims
It's the first day the public inquiry is getting an in depth look at each of the 22 victim's lives.
Last updated 14th Sep 2020
The inquiry into the Manchester Arena terror attack’s hearing from relatives of those who died - during what are called commemorative hearings.
Over the next two weeks, the inquiry will hear about the lives of each of the 22 people killed in the blast at an Ariana Grande concert in May 2017.
Today, we're hearing about Coronation Street superfan Martyn Hett, 14 year old Eilidh MacLeod from the Outer Hebrides, Radcliffe carer John Radcliffe and Leeds teenager Sorrell Leczkowski.
29 year old Martyn Hett, Stockport
The first tribute to 29 year old Martyn Hett has been made by his dad Paul, stepmum Kath and his brothers Dan Hett and Matthew Rowe.
The hearing was shown a video of Martyn laughing with friends, home videos of him performing as a child and recreations of his favourite Coronation Street moments.
Mr Hett said: "Where on earth do you even begin to paint a portrait of Martyn?
"So vibrant, so full of energy.''
Martyn had a growing social media following and had appeared on TV a number of times, including on shows such as Come Dine With Me and Tattoo Fixers - the latter because Martyn had an unusual tattoo of Coronation Street character Deirdre Barlow.
Just two days after the bombing, Martyn had been due to go on the holiday of a lifetime he had been saving up for.
Mr Hett said three days before Martyn's death, the family had held a goodbye party ahead of the planned eight-week holiday in the US.
Through tears, Mr Hett continued: "We gave him a big hug and said goodbye ... having no way of knowing we would never see him again."
"Martyn's future was bright. He had just been promoted at work and he was ready to go on a holiday of a lifetime. This was cruel beyond belief.
"Martyn crammed more in his 29 years than most of us do in a lifetime.
"His memory will shine brightly forever.''
14 year old Eilidh MacLeod, Scotland
Next, a video was played to remember Eilidh MacLeod, a 14 year old who'd traveled down to the concert from her home on the Isle of Barra.
It began with pictures of a beautiful sunrise over the mountains and beaches of Barra, set to traditional Scottish bagpipe music, one of Eilidh's passions.
Mum Marion MacLeod said: "Eilidh was a very special girl - of course she was, she was mine.
"Even though she was only 14 she was loving life. My whole world has been shattered into pieces.''
The video was interspersed with photos of Eilidh as a young child, pictured dressing up, wearing make-up and posing for happy family holiday snaps, as well as her wearing a kilt and playing the pipes
Duncan Nicholson, the son of her bagpipes tutor, said: "As we say on the islands: 'She had the music.'''
Eilidh always had a book on the go and loved Harry Potter.
Her cousin, Tony McNeill, said: "I miss Eilidh every single day. I miss everything about Eilidh every single day. I'm still Eilidh's godfather and I love her millions and I always will.''
After the video faded to a sunset over the sea surrounding Barra, chairman of the inquiry Sir John Saunders said: "If I may say so, that was a very beautiful and fitting tribute. Music has always played a huge part in my life.
"At the risk of upsetting the whole of Scotland I have never been a great fan of the bagpipes, but watching that has begun to change my mind.''
28 year old John Atkinson, Radcliffe
In a simple tribute, the parents of John Atkinson, his mother Daryl Price and father Kevan, said their son had a Mensa IQ of 137 aged eight and after leaving school he went on to work with young adults with autism and behavioural difficulties, a job he loved.
John had two older sisters Laura and Stacey, and one younger sibling, Amy. The family's statements were read by legal representatives.
The parents' statement said: "Since John's untimely death our lives have been torn apart.
"He was the centre of our world. We miss him so much, his laugh, his humour, his personality, his love for his family ... we will miss everything about him.
"Now there's a huge void in our family.''
His sister Amy's statement read: "John was always there when I needed him.
"I have so many memories with my brother from playing out together as kids and going on holidays as families. But what I miss the most is always having him there, because he was never far away ever".
14 year old Sorrell Leczkowski, Leeds
In the final tribute of the day, the hearing was shown a video montage of Leeds teenager, Sorrell Leczkowski, with pictures from her childhood set to music.
Family statements were read out by their lawyer, with her mum Samantha Leczkowski describing her as "clever, determined and beautiful - inside and out".
Sorrell loved cooking and sharing funny stories.
She'd gone to Manchester Arena that night to pick up her sister, along with her mum.
Samantha was also seriously injured in the attack, being one of the closest to the bomb to survive, but wrote: "I don't care that my leg doesn't work properly.
"I don't care that I'm constantly in pain from it, because the pain in my heart is the worst pain I've ever had and it won't go away.
"Losing one of my children has killed me".
She says Sorrell's bedroom has been left untouched since the morning she went to Manchester and never returned.
Sorrell's love for her mother was shown in a birthday card, written for Samantha's last birthday.
It read: "I hope you have a fabulous day, even though you hate it.
"If you want, I'll do your make-up for tea even though you are already the most beautiful, intelligent and kindest person I have ever been lucky enough to meet.
"I love you Mum".
The inquiry will hear more pen portraits of the victims over the next two weeks.