Murdered schoolgirl Lucy McHugh was described as a ‘hurricane of smiles and lip gloss’ at her funeral today as hundreds of mourners crowded in to say goodbye to her.
Mourners wore blue and green instead of the traditional black attire to a ‘celebration of her life’ in Southampton today on the request of her devastated mother Stacey White.
A horse-drawn carriage carried the teenager’s coffin to the cemetery as her friends and relatives looked on in tears.
The 13-year-old’s body was found in a wooded area near Southampton Sports Centre in the early hours of July 26. She was last seen leaving her home nearby the day before.
Family and friends of Lucy McHugh are pictured carrying her coffin into Hollybrook Cemetery in Southampton today as the funeral for the murdered 13-year-old schoolgirl gets underway. Mourners have been asked to wear her favourite colours
A horse-drawn hearse carrying the schoolgirl’s coffin is pictured arriving at the Southampton Cemetery this morning
In a eulogy read by Reverand Sean Blackman, Lucy’s family said: ‘Lucy was a little hurricane of smiles and lip gloss, wearing the brightest colours possible, with no care for what anyone thought.
‘She was a real individual and never followed the crowd. Lucy respected everybody regardless of their colour or creed.
‘She loved playing football, she loved cooking, she loved making cakes, she was on the gymnastics team.’
Pictured: Lucy McHugh was found murdered in the woods near Southampton Sports Centre on July 26
It added that she loved small children and walking the dog with her grandparents.
A GoFundMe page set up to raise £5,000 towards costs for Lucy’s funeral received more than £6,000 in two days.
Her father Andy McHugh chose not to attend the funeral, saying he wanted to avoid ‘unnecessary conflict’.
He posted on Facebook: ‘To honour my daughter and avoid unnecessary conflict I have made the difficult decision not to attend the public celebration of Lucy’s life.
‘I am arranging an alternative service for those who wish to honour Lucy and say goodbye, but have felt unable to attend the public event.’
He added: ‘Yes I have not seen my daughter for four years but it doesn’t mean I am not hurting she was my daughter as well.’
Mr McHugh previously released a statement through Hampshire Police saying: ‘This is the most difficult and distressing time following the violent loss of my daughter Lucy.
‘I am very grateful for the prayers and support being offered. I ask for privacy at this time.’
Lucy McHugh’s grieving mother is pictured second right with other relatives and friends of the murdered schoolgirl
Flowers spelling Lucy’s name were attached the horse-drawn hearse that arrived at the cemetery just before midday today
Police believed Lucy was stabbed, possibly with scissors or a knife, but have been so far unable to establish exactly what happened to her.
Hampshire Constabulary drafted in specialist support from the National Crime Agency to aid its investigation.
A £10,000 reward has been offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or people responsible.
Police have received some 300 reports from members of the public and recovered CCTV from 250 premises.
More than 100 volunteers have helped police in their efforts, arranging search parties in a bid to find the weapon Lucy was murdered with.
As well as appeals at Southampton’s St Marys stadium, the force has released images of Lucy’s last-known movements on Coxford Road near Southampton General Hospital at 9.22am on July 25.
Care worker Stephen Nicholson, 24, was arrested in connection with her death and later bailed.
Anyone with information should call 101 quoting Operation Refund or make a report using the following link: https://mipp.police.uk/operation/1004
Mourners wore blue and green as they made their way to the cemetery in Southampton for a ‘celebration of her life’ on the request of her devastated mother Stacey White
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