Tomlinson Vigil

On a rather cold central London evening a moving vigil was held to remember the life of Ian Tomlinson the newspaper vendor killed by the police whilst walking home from work during the G20 demonstrations last April.

The vigil was called by the Tomlinson family to mark the eight months; since Ian’s death and was held at the back of the Royal Exchange and near the place were he died.

Over a hundred people gathered and demonstrated their support and solidarity with the Tomlinson family, whose pain and loss of a much loved dad and husband were visibly clear for all to see. With the family event of Christmas almost on us, I would like to think that that such a gathering helps somehow to ease the burden of pain; at their very real literal loss.

The family arriving together were all emotionally, but bravely dealing with that pain, eyes understandably tearing up as they took there place at the front of the vigil. Ian and his wife had nine children in all together, who I could only describe as a credit to both parents, and these young adults immaculately turned out solidified iron like; the strength of Ian’s widow Julia.

I should also say that the vigil had a representative of the Jean Charles de Menezes family who spoke words of support, she was joined by others they included MP John Macdonald, family solicitor Jules Carey and the family of Sean Rigg, 40, who died in custody at Brixton police station in August last year.
John Macdonald apologised to those who had difficulty in hearing the contributions’, this was due to the fact that the Royal Exchange had withdrawn permission to use a small specking system.

Julia Tomlinson said that the family would never give up until they had answers about the death of her late husband. "We will not give up until we get it." She said it had been "a long and emotional time for us all as a family" and as they prepared for their first Christmas without Ian.

The one other thing to mention here is that London Mayor Johnston the Boris sent a message that was read out it said: "As Mayor of London, I'm sure I speak for all fellow Londoners when I send my sincere condolences to the friends and family of Ian Tomlinson.

Christmas is a time for families but for members of the Tomlinson family this will be a very difficult Christmas without their loved one.

Our thoughts are with them."

In conclusion, the state of play is this; the Tomlinson family have lodged a fresh complaint with the Independent Police Complaints Commission, claiming a senior Metropolitan Police officer misled those investigating his death as part of a "cover-up". Meanwhile a member of the Met's territorial support group has been suspended and questioned on suspicion of manslaughter over Mr Tomlinson's death.

He was caught by an amateur cameraman apparently hitting Mr Tomlinson with a baton and pushing him to the ground.

A file was passed to the Crown Prosecution Service at the beginning of August by the IPCC.

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• How Ian Tomlinson's death at the G20 protests changed policing (guardian.co.uk)

Photography By HarpyMarx:

(1) The Tomlinson Family at last nights vigil
(2) Julia Tomlinson
(3) John Macdonald