Lee Rigby’s mother: My son was ripped away

Photo: Oldham Chronicle

Lyn Rigby

Lyn Rigby, the mother of murdered soldier Lee Rigby, has told how she suffers constantly over his killing.

Mrs Rigby, 49, says she has daily chest pains following her son’s murder outside his barracks in Woolwich, south London, three years ago.

The fusilier, 25, was run over and hacked to death by Michael Adebolajo (31) and Michael Adebowale (25) on May 22, 2013. They were later jailed.

Mrs Rigby has now set up the Lee Rigby Foundation in honour of her son. She said: “The idea is to help bereaved families of those who served in the Armed Forces.

“It is a way to honour Lee and he would be very proud.”

Fusilier Lee Rigby was targeted outside the Woolwich barracks because he was the soldier the killers spotted first.

Mrs Rigby admits she is still struggling with her loss.

She said: “The pain never goes away. It’s constant pain in my chest every single day.

“Before, I was a bubbly person. I lived for my children and wanted everything for them.

“If they were happy, I was happy, but to have one ripped away, a part of you goes with them. It will never be the same again.”

Adebolajo and Adebowale had claimed they wanted to be killed by police in the aftermath of the murder.

Mother-of-five Mrs Rigby, of Middleton, added: “It is horrendous. I thought giving birth was the hardest thing to do in the world, but to bury a child, that is a whole, complete person you will never see again.”

Fusilier Rigby had served in Afghanistan with his regiment, for which he was drummer, and had joined up in 2006 at the age of 19. His unit was based in Cyprus.

He had wanted to be a soldier from the age of five, said Mrs Rigby.