Mum's vital daily routine after daughter stabbed to death

Esther Ghey (centre) reading out a statement outside court, after two teenagers were found guilty of killing her 16-year-old daughter Brianna Culcheth Linear Park.
-Credit: (Image: Manchester Evening News)


Esther Ghey has shared a family activity she did daily to help her cope after her daughter’s murder. Brianna Ghey, from Warrington, was 16 when she was lured to Culcheth Linear Park by her killers, Scarlett Jenkinson and Eddie Ratcliffe.

The Birchwood Community High School pupil was ambushed and stabbed 28 times on February 11 last year - her body was later discovered in the park by members of the public who were walking their dog. The two teenage killers planned their attack in sickening messages exchanged on WhatsApp and were inspired by content available on the dark web.

Since her daughter's murder, Esther has campaigned for mindfulness to be implemented in schools and for safer regulations around young people's internet access. In her latest bid to campaign, the mum-of-two is co-hosting a podcast series titled Parents vs The Internet.

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The ten-part series sees Esther, a new product development technologist, link up with journalist Liz Hull as they speak with special guests to explore “how we can keep our children safer”.

Released this week, episode three sees the team joined by Russell Treasure, a mindfulness coach. The former businessman “lost everything” and declared bankruptcy after the 2008 financial crash. He said since then, the discovery of mindfulness “transformed” his life. Esther used similar techniques to Russell to come in the immediate aftermath of her daughter's death.

She said: “Every day, Alicia, Wes (Esther’s daughter and partner), and I would go for a walk. Have a nice slow walk, and be really mindful about it. We would notice the new cherry blossoms on the trees and the pink sky. We would really live in the moment at that point.

Brianna, 16, was found with fatal wounds on a path in Culcheth Linear Park, near Warrington
Brianna, 16, was found with fatal wounds on a path in Culcheth Linear Park, near Warrington -Credit:Family handout/Warrington Police

“Quite often, we were worrying about the past or worrying about what was going to happen in the future. But, when you take time to step back, be in the moment; at this moment, you are okay. We were okay. This was really important for me - to take that time to know I was okay despite what happened to Brianna.

“Don’t get me wrong, I would go home and be in absolute tears, but for that moment, on the walk, it was a break.”

Each 25-minute episode features conversations with guests, including trans activist Jaxon Feely, Ofcom's policy director for child safety, therapists, authors, and survivors of mental illness. Over the course, listeners will explore how mobile phone companies can take responsibility for safeguarding children and how phones can be set up in an age-appropriate way.

Esther Ghey set up the Peace in Mind campaign after the death of her daughter Brianna
Esther Ghey set up the Peace in Mind campaign after the death of her daughter Brianna -Credit:Tom Bedworth

Esther previously said she believed Brianna would've been much more happier in her final years if she hadn't had a smartphone.

She said: "She was so protective over her phone. If I asked to look at her phone there would be holes in the door where she went absolutely mad because I took it off her. I really do believe, especially, in the final years of Brianna's life, it would have been so much more peaceful and happier if the smartphone hadn't been there in the first place."

Esther created the podcast not to "scaremonger" or "put fear" into other parents, but to "educate them". She said she wasn't fully aware of the content Brianna was accessing or to what extent.

She said: "I wish I had known because when you are educated and have this knowledge, it is only then that you can actually make a change and that you can help.”