Lee Rigby's mother reveals her 'decade of heartbreak'

‘People have forgotten him’: Lee Rigby’s mother reveals her ‘decade of heartbreak’ and how she still leaves an empty seat for her son at the dinner table – 10 years on from the soldier’s bloody murder by terrorists

• Lyn Rigby has vowed to make sure that people remember her murdered son Lee 
• While Lee’s family is ‘still heartbroken’ they are ‘determined to live life to the full’

Lee Rigby’s mother has admitted she still leaves an empty seat at the dinner table for her son as she marks the tenth anniversary of his murder by terrorists.

Lyn Rigby experienced a ‘decade of heartbreak’ after drummer Lee, 25, of the Royal Fusiliers, was mowed down and stabbed to death in broad daylight before witnesses in a Woolwich, south east London street in 2013.

The attack was carried out by ISIS extremists Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale who reportedly picked Lee out at random. The soldier was off-duty and wearing civilian clothes at the time of his execution.

Lyn, who told The Mirror that the ‘pain is there every day’, has vowed to make sure that people remember Lee and is encouraging others to ‘make the most of every day and cherish your loved ones’.

The grieving mother said that although the family is ‘still heartbroken’ 10 years on, they are ‘defiant and determined to live life to the full, as Lee would have done’.

Lyn Rigby experienced a ‘decade of heartbreak’ after her son Lee was murdered by ISIS extremists. Ahead of the tenth anniversary of his death, Lyn admitted she still leaves an empty seat at the dinner table for Lee. Lyn is pictured in March 2015 standing in front of a bronze drum in memory of her son

Lee Rigby, 25,  (pictured) of the Royal Fusiliers, was mowed down and stabbed to death in broad daylight before witnesses in a Woolwich, south east London street in 2013

Lee was run over and stabbed to death in May 2013. The father-of-one died as a result of multiple cut and stab wounds after the attack, fuelled by Adebowale and Adebolajo’s extremist beliefs – described as a ‘betrayal of Islam’ at their murder trial in 2014.

The murderers are understood to have expected to be killed by armed police at the scene and were hoping to be ‘martyred’.

Instead they were injured, arrested and stood trial for Lee’s killing, where they were both given life sentences.

Lyn, nearly a decade since Lee was killed, has now revealed that during her ‘darkest of days’ she too ‘just wanted to die’ so she could be with her son.

She told the newspaper that being a mother to her four daughters it what stopped her from taking her own life. 

‘My husband Ian and my four girls saved me from myself,’ Lyn said. ‘Together they all threw a ring of protection around me. As a family we pulled through together and to this day I have no idea how I am still standing.’

She shared that despite the sadness they all feel, the family has continued to keep Lee as a huge part of their lives. 

‘We will always have an empty chair at the heart of our family now – at birthdays, Christmas and Easter – even summer barbecues and simple get-togethers,’ she explained.

The attack was carried out by ISIS extremists Michael Adebolajo (left) and Michael Adebowale (right) who reportedly picked Lee out at random. The soldier was off-duty and wearing civilian clothes at the time of his execution

Lyn (pictured) said that although Lee will ‘always be missing’, the family is doing everything they can to ensure ‘he is never forgotten’. The grieving mother has also vowed to ‘use Lee’s name for good’ and created a charity to help bereaved military families and suffering veterans

Lyn said that although Lee will ‘always be missing’, the family is doing everything they can to ensure ‘he is never forgotten’.

She shared how at her daughter’s wedding, Lee was given a place setting at the head table where a candle burned in memoriam next to his photograph.

The grieving mother has also vowed to ‘use Lee’s name for good’ and created a charity to help bereaved military families and suffering veterans.

The Lee Rigby Foundation provides grieving families with a retreat they can ‘escape to when life becomes too hard to bear’.

Lyn said that although it ‘doesn’t take the pain away’ getting away can be ‘vital’ when one is dealing with ‘such intense grief’.

She added that although a ‘decade without Lee has been devastating’ and the family has ‘cried an ocean of tears’, they strive to live their lives to the fullest because that is what Lee would have wanted them to do.

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