THEY both had so much to live for — but were cut down at the Boston Marathon
by the evil of terrorism.
Heartfelt tributes were paid yesterday as little Martin Richard, eight, and
restaurant manager Krystle Campbell, 29, were named as victims of the twin
bombings.
Last night the FBI was still trying to identify who planned the blasts which
killed three and injured 176.
President Obama vowed to find them — as it emerged the shrapnel bombs were
constructed from common pressure cookers stuffed with ball bearings and
nails.
Family friends of youngest victim Martin described him yesterday as an
“angelic” boy.
Grieving Judy Tuttle said: “To know him was to love him. He had that
million-dollar smile.”
Maeve O’Brien added: “He was the sweetest little boy I’ve ever met.”
Martin was killed in one of Monday’s twin explosions as he stood with his
family near the finish line eating an ice cream.
Mum Denise and sister Jane, six, were both seriously wounded. Denise suffered
head injuries and needed brain surgery.
Jane lost a leg.
Dad Bill and Martin’s older brother Henry, 12, were unhurt.
Stephen Lynch, a pal of Bill’s, said the family had bought ice cream then
found a good spot to watch the race.
He added: “They were looking in the crowd as the runners were coming to see if
they could identify some of their friends when the bomb hit.”
and mum Denise underwent a brain op while dad Bill and Henry, 12, were unhurt”>
The second fatality was named as Krystle Campbell, 29. The third was a female
Chinese graduate student at Boston University, who has not yet been named
Krystle’s dad William said his restaurant manager daughter had gone to the
marathon with friend Karen Rand — who was seriously injured.
The pair hoped to take pictures of Karen’s boyfriend as he crossed the finish
line.
He said: “My daughter was the most lovable girl. She helped everybody and I’m
just so shocked right now.”
Last night the toll stood at three dead and 176 injured – with at least 17
critical. The youngest injury victim is a boy of two. The oldest is 65.
A cruel mistake in the turmoil after the blasts meant William was first told
Krystle was ALIVE but needed surgery on her leg. He learned the truth
when he was taken to Massachusetts General Hospital 12 hours later and found
Karen instead.
He said: “I said, ‘That’s not my daughter, that’s Karen! Where’s my daughter?’
The doctors were as shocked as we were.” A detective later showed him a
photo of his daughter. William said: “I almost passed out on the floor.
“She was the best person you’d ever meet. She helped everybody. I don’t care
who you were, she was always there.”
Krystle’s devastated mother Patty struggled to hold back tears as she said:
“We’re heartbroken. She was a wonderful person and everybody that knew her
loved her. She was always smiling. You couldn’t ask for a better daughter. I
can’t believe this has happened. This just doesn’t make any sense.”
Neighbour Jane Sherman yesterday told how she witnessed stunned Bill arrive
back home on Monday night from the hospital where his wife and daughter lay
seriously injured.
She said: “He looked like the walking dead. I said, ‘Oh my God, Bill, are you
OK?’
“He didn’t say a word, he just went into the house.
“His friend came over. He told me Martin had died and the others were in the
hospital.”
Jane said the Richards had lived in the Dorchester suburb of Boston for 20
years.
She added: “I’ve seen those kids grow up. I remember when they were born. They
are a wonderful family.”
Bill, director of a community group, is a keen runner who could not take part
in the marathon because of injury.
Denise is a librarian in the school that Martin attended with sister Jane. A
friend of the family yesterday put a poignant picture of Martin on Facebook.
Lucia Brawley’s photo shows the youngster holding a poster with the words: “No
more hurting people, peace.”
Martin made it last April in memory of black teenager Trayvon Martin. The
17-year-old was shot dead in Florida as he walked home by a Neighbourhood
Watch gunman who claimed he “looked suspicious”.
Lucia said: “My prayer is that we all live by Martin’s words, paying tribute
to his too-brief, but immeasurably valuable life by following his example.”
Victim Krystle worked in Summer Shack, close to the blast sites. Her bosses
yesterday said: “She was beautiful. She was loud and everyone loved her for
it.
“Along with the million-dollar smile came head-to-toe freckles and gorgeous
bright red hair.
“It was easy to feel ten years younger around her, no matter who you were.”
It is feared the death toll may rise further. At least 17 of those injured
were said to be critical.
The youngest injury victim is a boy of two. The oldest is 65.
It was still no clearer last night who was responsible for planting the two
bombs.
No group has claimed to be behind the attack — and theories about the likely
culprits range from al-Qaeda to far-right US extremists.
President Obama yesterday pledged to track down the bombers, wherever they may
be. He added: “This was a heinous and cowardly act and given what we now
know took place the FBI is investigating it as an act of terrorism.
“What we don’t yet know, however, is who carried out this attack, or why,
whether it was planned and executed by a terrorist organisation, foreign or
domestic, or was the act of a malevolent individual.
“It will take time to follow every lead and to determine what happened but we
will find out. We will find whoever harmed our citizens and we will bring
them to justice.”
The president, who yesterday received a message of sympathy from The Queen,
also paid tribute to those who helped the wounded.
He said: “What the world saw were stories of heroism and kindness and
generosity and love.
“Exhausted runners who kept running to the nearest hospital to give blood and
those who stayed to tend to the wounded, some tearing off their clothes to
make tourniquets.”
Parts of Boston remained in lockdown last night as the FBI continued its
investigation.
Two passengers were yesterday taken off a flight at Boston airport. They have
not been identified.
Local TV said they were Arabic-speakers.
Prayers for Irish dancing family
A VIGIL was held last night for the young Irish dancer who lost her leg in the
Boston bomb that killed her brother.
Little Jane Richard, six, has been practising her jigs and reels at the
Clifden Academy in the Milton area of the horror-stricken US city since she
was a toddler. And last night staff, students and parents gathered in the
school to pray for the stricken family.
Dance teacher Eileen Dinn told the Irish Sun: “Jane has been dancing for me
for about three to four years and was a real talented little girl.
“They were such a lovely family. I can’t get over what has happened.
“Little Martin would be friends with some of the kids here and would often be
hanging around the dance hall.
“It’s just devastating and all we can do is pray for that family and all the
other families who have been horribly affected by this.” A candle was placed
on the doorstep of the Richards’ family home in the Dorchester suburb, while
the word ‘Peace’ was written in chalk on the front path.
Neighbour Betty Delorey told how Jane’s brother Martin, who died in Monday’s
marathon massacre, loved to climb the neighbourhood trees and hop over the
fence outside his home.
Their father Bill is the director of a local community group, while mum Denise
works at the Neighbourhood House Charter School.
Other locals described them as well-liked civic leaders who love to sing Irish
songs around the kitchen table with pals late into the night.
Derry doc treats the wounded
AN Irish doctor has revealed the full horror of the marathon casualties.
James McDaid, from Coleraine, Co Derry, is a surgeon at Massachusetts Hospital
in Boston.
He said many of the injured had to have limbs amputated because the damage was
so severe.
And he revealed injuries ranged from severe leg trauma to metal embedded in
the skin. Dr McDaid, right, said: “The types of injuries were mostly leg
injuries, were mostly lower-limb trauma. Very sadly, unfortunately most of
the leg injuries were so severe they were unsalvageable… It was real
pandemonium here, non-stop sirens, police and ambulances all around the
place.”
Brothers lose legs
A MUM of five told of her shock yesterday after learning that two of her sons
watching the run lost legs in the explosions.
Liz Norden, of Boston, told how the pair — aged 31 and 33 — were hit by
shrapnel and each had one limb amputated below the knee after being taken to
separate hospitals.
Mrs Norden declined to name her sons, but told how one called her from the
ambulance and said: “Ma, I’m hurt real bad.”