Three years on from brutal murder Brianna Ghey’s mum pledges to carry on working hard in her memory

THREE years on from the horrifying murder of Warrington teenager Brianna Ghey, her mother has pledged to carry on working hard in her memory.

Esther Ghey, who has shown remarkable courage since the killing of her 16-year-old daughter in Culcheth Linear Park three years ago today, posted a simple message on social media on the eve of that fateful day saying:

“Tomorrow marks 3 years without you, Brianna.
“I still think of you every. single. day.
“I wish I could hug you and hear your voice, even just one more time.
“I will continue to work hard in your memory, because I have to do something with the love and energy I will forever hold for you.
Brianna Ghey, I will make sure your name lives on and you will continue to make a difference, bringing joy, peace and resilience to families for years to come.

Three years on, the tragedy continues to resonate far beyond the boundaries of Culcheth Linear Park.
On this day in 2023, the vibrant and “fearless” Birchwood Community High School pupil was lured to a park and fatally stabbed 28 times by two teenagers she believed were friends. While the brutal nature of the crime—perpetrated by Scarlett Jenkinson and Eddie Ratcliffe—shocked the nation, it was the extraordinary response of her mother, Esther, that has come to define Brianna’s lasting legacy.

In the three years since her daughter’s death, Esther has transitioned from a grieving mother to a formidable national campaigner. Her efforts, initially launched under the banner of the Peace in Mind campaign, have recently evolved into the Brianna Ghey Legacy Project.
The project focuses on three core pillars:
Mindfulness in Schools: Working with the Mindfulness in Schools Project (MiSP), Esther has raised over £90,000 to train teachers in mindfulness practices, aiming to build mental resilience in young people.
Phone-Free Education: Citing Brianna’s own struggles with social media and the “darkness” of online content, Esther has campaigned for stricter rules on smartphones. Just this month, her cause received a massive boost with a £250,000 donation from the Duke of Westminster to fund lockable phone pouches in Cheshire’s state schools.
Forgiveness and Unity: In a move that stunned many, Esther has advocated for empathy, even meeting with the mother of one of Brianna’s killers to discuss restorative justice and common ground.
As Warrington observes this anniversary, the community remembers a girl who was “unique and joyful”. Following the success of previous vigils at Golden Square, today is a day of reflection on how one family’s pain has been channeled into a movement for national change.
Esther’s journey is also captured in her recent memoir, Under a Pink Sky, released last year to share her path of love, loss, and the power of forgiveness. Her ongoing dialogue with political leaders like Sir Keir Starmer continues to push for mental health support to be a statutory requirement in the UK curriculum.
For those who wish to support Brianna’s legacy, the Brianna Ghey Legacy Project remains the focal point for donations aimed at protecting the next generation from the “negativity” that Esther believes contributed to this tragedy.