“SHE CLUNG TO LIFE FOR 20 MONTHS” — MUM DIED HOLDING A PHOTO OF HER FOUR CHILDREN AFTER HORRIFIC FIRE ATTACK

Michelle Pearson survived the blaze that took the lives of four of her children, but never recovered from her devastating injuries. Now, a new inquest is examining the events that led to the tragedy — and whether more could have been done to protect the family.

Nearly nine years after four children died in a devastating house fire in Walkden, Greater Manchester, the story of their mother, Michelle Pearson, has returned to the spotlight.

Michelle was just 37 years old when she died in hospital in August 2019, almost 20 months after the blaze that claimed the lives of four of her children.

At the time of her death, her family placed a photograph of the children around her and a crucifix in her hand.

Now, an inquest into the deaths of Michelle and her four children has heard new details about the family’s final weeks, the escalating conflict surrounding their home and the fears Michelle had repeatedly expressed before the fatal attack.

FOUR CHILDREN LOST IN THE NIGHT

The tragedy began in the early hours of December 11, 2017, at the family’s home on Jackson Street in Walkden.

Michelle’s four children — Demi, 15, Brandon, 8, Lacie, 7, and Lia, 3 — were inside the house when petrol bombs were thrown into the property.

The fire spread rapidly, blocking the main route from the upstairs bedrooms to the ground floor.

Demi, Brandon and Lacie died in the blaze.

Their three-year-old sister Lia was taken to hospital but died two days later.

Michelle survived the initial fire but suffered catastrophic burns over a large proportion of her body.

MICHELLE HAD WARNED THAT SHE WAS AFRAID

One of the most painful aspects of the case has been the evidence that Michelle had repeatedly told authorities she did not feel safe before the fire.

The new inquest heard that the family’s home had already been subjected to a series of attacks.

Windows had been smashed.

A wheelie bin had been set alight.

Graffiti had appeared on the property.

And Michelle had contacted police several times in the weeks before the fatal attack.

Her mother, Sandra Lever, told the inquest that Michelle had been desperate to leave the property and had approached her housing provider because she believed her family was in danger.

According to the evidence, she was told she did not meet the criteria for emergency accommodation.

Her children were also said to have been frightened of remaining in the house.

Brandon reportedly told his grandmother that he no longer wanted to live there.

“SHE JUST WANTED OUT”

A neighbour, Elaine Williams, told the inquest that she had seen one of the men later convicted in connection with the attack smashing windows at Michelle’s home with a hammer.

She recalled Michelle as being increasingly distressed.

The family wanted to leave.

They wanted to find somewhere safer.

But the move never happened.

The inquest is now examining the circumstances surrounding the family’s deaths and whether there were opportunities for authorities or other agencies to intervene before the final attack.

Relatives have described the deaths as potentially preventable and have raised concerns about missed opportunities.

THE ATTACK THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING

The court previously heard that Zak Bolland and David Worrall were involved in the fatal attack.

In the early hours of December 11, the pair removed a fence panel, smashed a rear or kitchen window and threw petrol bombs into the occupied house.

The fire quickly engulfed the property.

At the time, the family were asleep upstairs.

The attack was later described by the trial judge as part of an escalating feud.

The precise origins of that feud have never been fully made public, a point that has now been raised again during the inquest.

MICHELLE’S 20-MONTH FIGHT

While her children were gone, Michelle remained in hospital.

She suffered burns covering approximately 68% of her body, according to the more recent inquest reporting, and spent months in a coma.

Her condition was so serious that she was unable to attend the funerals of her four children.

For her family, the grief was complicated by the fact that Michelle herself was still fighting for her life.

She had survived the fire, but the injuries she sustained would ultimately prove fatal.

Michelle died on August 25, 2019, aged 37.

SHE DIED WITH HER CHILDREN CLOSE TO HER

One of the most heartbreaking details heard at the latest inquest concerns Michelle’s final moments.

Her family placed a photograph of her four children with her.

She was also holding a crucifix.

She died surrounded by the memory of the children she had spent the final 20 months grieving.

A statement from her family said they believed she was finally reunited with her children.

That image — a mother holding a photograph of the four children she had lost — has become one of the most poignant details of the case.

THE MEN RESPONSIBLE WERE SENTENCED TO LIFE

Zak Bolland and David Worrall were convicted of murdering the four children and received life sentences.

Bolland was ordered to serve a minimum of 40 years, while Worrall was ordered to serve a minimum of 37 years.

Bolland’s then-girlfriend, Courtney Brierley, was sentenced to 21 years after being convicted of four counts of manslaughter.

Bolland and Worrall were later also convicted in connection with Michelle’s death.

The convictions established the criminal responsibility for the attack.

But the new inquest is looking at another question: what happened before the fire, and could the tragedy have been prevented?

THE QUESTIONS THAT REMAIN

Senior coroner Timothy Brennand has said the inquest is intended to give the Pearson family a voice.

Among the central issues is the family’s repeated fear before the attack.

Michelle had reportedly sought help.

The children were frightened.

The house had already been targeted.

And yet the family remained there when the fatal attack happened.

The inquest is expected to examine the actions of different agencies and whether there were missed opportunities to protect Michelle and her children.

The hearing is ongoing and is expected to last several weeks.

A FAMILY STILL LIVING WITH THE LOSS

For Michelle’s surviving family, the tragedy did not end when the fire was extinguished.

They lost four children in one night.

Then, nearly two years later, they lost Michelle.

The surviving members of the family have spent years carrying the consequences of what happened.

And now, almost nine years later, the inquest is bringing painful memories back into public view.

But for the Pearson family, it is also an opportunity to ask questions that have remained unanswered.

Why was Michelle unable to get the safe home she was asking for?

Could anything have been done differently?

Were there warning signs that should have prompted stronger action?

Those questions are now at the heart of the inquest.

HER CHILDREN WERE NEVER FORGOTTEN

Demi, Brandon, Lacie and Lia were not simply names in a criminal case.

They were four children who had a mother who loved them.

Michelle survived the night they were taken from her, but she spent the rest of her life carrying the physical and emotional consequences.

When she finally died, her family made sure that the children she had lost were beside her in her final moments — in a photograph held close to her hands.

Almost nine years later, their story is being heard again.

Not only as a tragedy, but as a search for answers about what happened before it.

And for those who loved Michelle and her children, the hope is that this inquest can finally help explain how so many warnings could be followed by such an unimaginable loss.