MORE than two hundred mourners attended a memorial service for nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel yesterday at a church just yards from her primary school.
The moment of prayer marked a “dark hour” for the community of Liverpool where the schoolgirl was shot dead at her home last Monday.
Hundreds of friends, family, and strangers paid their respects at St Margaret Mary’s Catholic Church where Olivia would have received her first Holy Communion in the new school year.
Hundreds of people flocked to the church to attend the moving service, with around 50 more waiting outside.
Crowds left the church wiping away tears from their eyes and hugging their friends and relatives.
Parents held their young children’s hands after the tragic church service.
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The church remained open until 8pm for those who wished to pray for the murdered child.
Several people had been left standing outside the church doors after the building fully filled in Olivia’s memory.
Among the congregation was Olivia’s mum, Cheryl, who was injured trying to protect her daughter during the attack last week.
She had frantically tried to keep the gunman out of her house after opening the front door to investigate shots fired outside the family home.
The 35-year-old then rushed inside closely followed by the gunman as she desperately tried to stop the men.
Cheryl was shot in the wrist as the killer began blindly shooting with “complete disregard” while Olivia was hit in the chest.
The nine-year-old’s headteacher was also seen paying her respects at the church today.
Rebecca Wilkinson told Sky News that counselling would be available for pupils of Olivia’s school when they return next week.
She said: “It is an opportunity to find out how deep the impact has been on the children.”
Others in attendance spoke with a mixture of sadness and fury at the murder last week, particularly parents in the area terrified for their own children.
One woman said as she left the service, “Sad, just so sad”.
Another added: “I just fear for the young children growing today up in a cruel, cruel world.”
I just hope they get them.
Woman in attendance at Olivia's memorial
She voiced the thought on everyone’s mind about Olivia’s death: “I just hope they get them.”
Right Reverend Tom Williams, the auxiliary Bishop of Liverpool, said: “We’ve all taken this personally. There’s a real sense of family in Liverpool – you hit one, you hit the other, you hit everybody.”
Since Olivia’s death, two men, aged 36 and 33, were arrested on suspicion of murder but have been released on bail.
The older male was returned to prison for breaching licence conditions.
The gunman who shot Olivia wanted to hurt a 35-year-old man, his intended target, who was treated for multiple wounds to his upper body.
But after the horror intrusion it was Olivia who was rushed to hospital in a critical condition.
Tragically, the schoolgirl was declared dead shortly after 10pm.
An inquest this week revealed how a police officer used his hand to cover Olivia Pratt-Korbel’s bullet wound as he rushed her to hospital.
The officer scooped up the nine-year-old in his arms when he found her dying at her home.
Her heart then stopped while in the police car on the way to A&E.
In 24 hours alone, cops made more than 30 arrests as part of a crackdown on organised crime.
Merseyside Police made 32 arrests, carried out 66 stop and searches, executed 11 warrants and seized eight vehicles on Monday.
Detective Chief Superintendent Mark Kameen said: “The murder of Olivia in her own home, the place where she should have been safest, has crossed all boundaries and detectives and uniformed officers are working round the clock to find the person or persons responsible.”
