Rhys parents ‘touched’ by internet tributes to their murdered son

Aug 28 2007 by Caroline Innes, Liverpool Daily Post

THE parents of murdered schoolboy Rhys Jones last night said they were “touched” by internet tributes set up in memory of their son.

Melanie Jones broke down as she explained how comforting trib- utes left on a website had been to her family.

Mrs Jones said: “It’s unbelievable. The lovely things that they have said. Pictures of him, songs on there and pictures of his dog Lennox. His friends are devastated as well. His friend from down the street knocked at the door in floods of tears.”

Rhys’s father, Stephen, added: “He was crying his eyes out. He is a couple of years younger than Rhys and a Liverpool fan. We gave him a big hug. He misses Rhys so much.”

A forum has also been set up on social networking website Facebook, not only for people to leave tributes to the 11-year-old, but to encourage anyone with information to come forward.

The group called, RIP Rhys Jones/ Find the scumbag who killed him! was set up by Omar El-Saleh, of Liverpool’s Blue Coat school, and has attrac- ted 4,930 members.

Mrs Jones added: “We’ve had letters and cards from all over the country and it really does restore your faith that it is not all bad. I’d like to thank everyone who has taken time to send, cards flowers and tributes and people who have tapped me on the shoulder, acknow- ledging us. People don’t know what to do or say. It is very hard.”