Grace O’Malley-Kumar, who was fatally stabbed while attempting to save her companion, has received requests for the George Cross, and her parents have supported these efforts.
Valdo Calocane, 32, fatally stabbed the 19-year-old student many times as she attempted to assist Barnaby Webber.
The hockey player for England’s under-18 team died a hero, having heroically attempted to repel the triple killer to save her teammate rather than running from the scene.
Grace’s ‘astonishingly bravery’ was recognised during a court hearing in which her father, Dr Sanjoy Kumar, praised his daughter as a hero who shunned the opportunity to run away.
MPs and senior police officers have called for Grace to posthumously be given the George Cross—the highest civilian award for acts of ‘the greatest heroism or of the most courage in circumstances of extreme danger’.
Grief-stricken mother Sinead O’Malley told The Sun it ‘would be a remarkable acknowledgement of her bravery’, while her father says the ‘world deserves people like Grace’.
Mrs O’Malley said: ‘Grace is never coming back to us, but we never want her to be forgotten, and this would certainly make sure she is remembered forever.
‘Our hope is it would help her be remembered as the wonderful person that she was, and not just for the horrendous fate she suffered.’
Dr Kumar said the bravery his daughter showed was ‘incredible for a young girl’.
‘The accolade would be an example to every other young person,’ he said.
Tory MP Marco Longhi said Grace had shown ‘selfless bravery’ and he backed calls for her to be given the George Cross.
‘This would be a fitting tribute to her and it would be a fitting legacy for her heroism,’ he said.
On June 13, last year, shortly after 4 am, university students Grace and Barney were returning home from a night out in Nottingham when delusional, schizophrenia-ridden Calocane fatally stabbed them.
Calocane then repeatedly knifed 65-year-old caretaker Ian Coates and left him for dead before stealing his van, which he used to ram into three other people. They all survived.
Calocane was handed a hospital order for manslaughter by diminished responsibility after Nottingham Crown Court heard he had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia.
Grace O’Malley-Kumar was very brave. A wonderful friend and daughter, loved by all, but is a posthumous George Cross the right recognition for her? Perhaps a statue instead?
A posthumous George Cross might even be a sweetener from our government so that they can sweep this incident under the rug. Medals will not bring back this young woman—we want remedy instead.
Knife crime is all over the world, but our leaders are doing nothing to put an end to it.
This young woman stayed to defend her friend and gave her life in doing so.
I’m not sure what is the right or wrong way to remember this young woman, but I feel very sad for the families involved. These youngsters were ambushed in a senseless and cowardly way and never had a chance. It’s a parent’s worst nightmare, and the best way to honour them would be to bring in stronger legislation to help prevent these crimes.
Understandably, her family want her to be officially recognised in some way, and her family are in deep grief right now. I just hope that thousands of people in this country respect Grace for what she did that day! A one-minute silence and some sort of plaque or statue would be more appropriate.
THE MONTHLY MOSQUITO 