Hundreds gather for final farewell to Minnie Merriman
Hundreds of people gathered in Arbroath this week to pay their respects to Minnie Merriman, who died in the town three weeks ago.
The nine-year-old, from West Yorkshire, was found critically injured at Elliot Industrial Estate just after midnight on Monday, August 3.
She was taken to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee, where she later died.
Police Scotland said that she was on a family camping trip.
Minnie’s father, Christopher Rice, appeared in court accused of her murder and has been remanded in custody for trial at a later date.
On Monday Minnie’s body was taken home to England but the private ambulance carrying her coffin, which was accompanied by a large group of motorcycles, drove to Arbroath as a thank you from her family for the kindness shown to them by the townspeople.
The ambulance was escorted to Arbroath’s Victoria Park where members of her family, including her mum Laurie Merriman and other family members, were waiting.
Laurie wanted to take her daughter to Arbroath on her way home as a mark of thanks and appreciation for the support she has received.
As the ambulance arrived, it was piped into the park by local piper Kirsty Ironside-Carrie while hundreds of people lined the road.
The event had been organised by Arbroath woman, Kerry Tough.
The ambulance stopped and allowed Laurie and her family to stand together while the crowd paid their last respects.
Local children also laid floral tributes and balloons beside the vehicle carrying Minnie’s body.
Family friend Alice Lawson then said: “Minnie’s family want to thank you all from the bottom of their hearts for coming here today and coming together to remember Minnie and support us.
“We can’t express our gratitude enough.”
Minnie’s father, Christopher Rice, 35, later appeared at Forfar Sheriff Court accused of her murder and was remanded in custody ahead of trial.
He subsequently made a second appearance at court in Forfar via a video link from prison.
Rice, of Wakefield, West Yorkshire, made no plea to the single charge during the private full committal hearing before Sheriff Jillian Martin-Brown.
The weekend after her death, Arbroath FC held a minute’s silence before their match against Inverness Caledonian Thistle in her memory.