Funeral of 11-year-old gun victim Rhys Jones » Communities » 24dash.com

The funeral of 11-year-old gun victim Rhys Jones will take place today.

Rhys was shot as he walked home from football practice in Croxteth, Liverpool, on August 22.

Rhys's parents, Melanie, 41, and Stephen, 44, have said that bright clothes or football strips should be worn for the service, which has been planned as a celebration of the youngster's life.

The public are invited to attend the 2pm service, at Liverpool's Anglican Cathedral, but Rhys will be buried at a private ceremony attended only by family and close friends.

The cathedral service will follow a funeral procession from the Jones family home in Croxteth past Goodison Park, home of Rhys's beloved Everton Football Club.

Everton spokesman Ian Ross said the club would have a "pronounced" presence at the funeral with representatives including the president, Sir Philip Carter, manager David Moyes and up to 15 senior players.

He said: "Every senior player who is not on international duty will attend.

"They all wanted to be there. They see it as their duty really, and those who can't attend are very sorry they will not be able to pay their respects to Rhys.

"Our chairman, Bill Kenwright, is unable to get back from the United States on time and he has sent a personal message to the family saying his thoughts are with them."

Liverpool FC will be represented by former players Brian Hall, Phil Neal and David Fairclough.

Rhys's former primary school, Broad Square, will be closed for the day to allow pupils and teachers to attend.

At Fazakerley High, the secondary school Rhys would have attended and at which his brother Owen, 17, is a sixth former, pupils will gather for a moment of reflection at 2pm.

Local civic dignitaries at the cathedral will be led by Liverpool's Lord Mayor, Cllr Paul Clark.

Senior police officers, including detectives who have led the hunt to find his killer, are also expected to attend.

Police say the strongest line of inquiry remains that Rhys was the accidental victim of a targeted attack against others.

They have not ruled out that a feud between two local gangs may have played some part in the shooting.

So far, 17 people have been arrested in connection with the murder. Twelve have been bailed pending further inquiries and five were released without charge and are being treated as witnesses.

The Anglican Bishop of Liverpool, the Rt Rev James Jones, today described Rhys's murder as part of an "epidemic of adolescent lawlessness" and called for the establishment of a commission to look for solutions to the problem.

The Bishop told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I think we have got to have a round-table commission and find out what we can do, because there seems to be a epidemic of adolescent lawlessness.

"We don't want to demonise young people because there are some wonderful young people in our country, but there is an issue about young people being out of control, especially in some parts of our city.

"We have got to ask what can we do with these young people and how as a society can we bring up our young people to be responsible citizens."

The Bishop said it was "extraordinary" that Rhys's family had asked the public to join them in celebrating his life and asked them to wear football colours to the service.

"They have been greatly buoyed up by the solidarity here in the city and just would love as many people as possible to come to the cathedral today," he said.

"It is going to be a very simple service. What we are doing at the funeral today is celebrating Rhys's life and also thanking God for him with faith and the belief that the resurrection of Jesus Christ does open up hope for the future."

Copyright Press Association 2007

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