Doreen Lawrence's fight for justice

Published Tuesday, 07 August 2012
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The mother of Stephen Lawrence, who was killed in a racist attack in London in 1993, has encouraged other families who have lost a loved one to fight for justice.

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Doreen Lawrence believed the initial inquiry into her teenage son's murder was incompetent, and a subsequent judicial review found one of the main reasons that no one was convicted of his murder was because the Metropolitan Police was "institutionally racist".

She will speak about her plight to highlight racism and miscarriages of justice at the Féile an Phobail's PJ McCrory Human Rights lecture on Tuesday.

Mrs Lawrence told UTV the quest to have her son's murderers convicted was "one of the most tragic things to happen to our family".

"Fighting for justice is hard, and difficult, but something for me that I knew I had to do. My son deserved better," she explained.

In 2012, 18 years after Stephen died, two men were found guilty of his murder.

"Look at our campaigning for justice over the years. The justice system - the police, the government of the day - to me, it seems as if they didn't see Steven's life as being valued.

"I would always encourage people where ever you can - I know the struggle is difficult but you need to highlight what is happening."

Since his death, Doreen set up the Stephen Lawrence Trust, to bring to light racism and miscarriages of justice, and to combat social injustice.

"The fight that I had to do in memory of Steven - I would not change anything.

"Steven's life was worth so much to me and I think sometimes if you don't challenge the system... It's not so much to change the system but to let people know that somebody's lost their life and it's somebody who's dear to us and it's something that they need to take control over to do something about," she explained.

Doreen carried the Olympic flag during last month's opening ceremony, and earlier that month also carried the Olympic torch in south east London. She said Stephen, who was a keen athlete, would have loved the chance to carry the torch himself.

"I'm sure he would think well done mum, we're proud of you, you've worked so hard, you've achieved so much. I'm sure he would be running alongside me.

"I think he would run next to me."

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