The funeral of nine-year-old Alice da Silva Aguiar, who was tragically killed in a mass stabbing at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class, was held on Sunday in Southport. The white coffin was transported by horse-drawn carriage to St Patrick’s Catholic Church. As the carriage made its way, hundreds of mourners lined the streets, bowing their heads and applauding. The procession was led by a young girl carrying a blue teddy bear, with pink and white flowers and ribbons decorating the route.
The mourners walked solemnly behind the carriage, past pink ribbons and balloons tied to lampposts and garden walls. The procession was accompanied by 30 uniformed police officers and a large crowd of bystanders who clapped and released bubbles to show their support.
“Let her dance her way to heaven,” was the heartfelt wish of Sérgio and Alexandra as they came together to honor their “beloved angel,” who tragically lost her life in the mass stabbing at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class nearly two weeks ago.
Inside the church, hundreds of people attended the funeral, while others outside listened to the service being relayed on loudspeakers. Among those present was Merseyside police chief constable Serena Kennedy, who delivered a public appeal for calm on behalf of Alice’s family. Kennedy stated: “You have shown great courage in asking me to be here today … to give a message from you, Alice’s family, to say that you do not want there to be any more violence on the streets of the United Kingdom in the name of your daughter. I am ashamed, and I’m so sorry that you had to even consider this in the planning of the funeral of your beautiful daughter Alice.”
Father John Heneghan began the service with a musical tribute, playing the guitar alongside Alice’s own guitar. He described Alice as “a lovely little girl, full of life” with a “glorious smile” that could light up anyone’s heart. He remembered her for her “radiant happiness” and the joy she brought to her parents.
Alice’s parents, Sérgio and Alexandra, described their daughter as a “beloved angel” and “our perfect dream child.” They said she was “a good girl, with strong values and kind nature,” adding: “You moved our world with your confidence and empathy. Playful, energetic, friendly, and always so respectful. Being around you was a privilege, we cherished every milestone. You completed us.”
They expressed their “shocked, unimaginable pain” and noted the difficulty in moving forward: “When mommy says ‘good night, Sergio, good night Alice’ – and then it hits us all over again. We don’t hear you back.” Despite their grief, they promised to always support each other, saying, “We’ll always have each other to rely on. We won’t be alone. We are surrounded by a wonderful community and their full support.”
The couple concluded with a heartfelt message to their daughter: “Keep dancing. Mummy and daddy will always, always love you.”
The funeral was also attended by Jinnie Payne, headteacher at Churchtown Primary School, who praised Alice’s natural smile, good manners, and inquisitive nature. Dance teacher Heidi Liddle described Alice as “the most kind-hearted child” with “thick brown hair that danced as she walked.”
Alice was attending the dance class at Hart Space Studio when she was fatally stabbed, along with Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven. A new photo released by her family showed Alice smiling with a lifesize cardboard cut-out of Taylor Swift.
In an emotional interview with BBC Radio Merseyside, Father Heneghan reflected on Alice’s joyful nature and the profound impact of her loss on her family. A crowdfunding page set up by Alice’s mother’s employer, Benridge Care Homes and Good Companions, has raised nearly £45,000 to support the family.
The suspect, Axel Muganwa Rudakubana, 17, has been charged with three counts of murder and ten counts of attempted murder in connection with the stabbings. The eight other children injured in the attack have all been discharged from the hospital.