Dionne Barrett, mum of Gordon Gault knifed in Elswick, shares agony after a school stabbing. She fears his death was in vain and nothing is learned.
Dionne fears nothing has been learned; it felt like Gordon’s death was for nothing. Dionne is 39 years old, and she spoke about the boy’s family’s agony. His name was Harvey Willgoose. Receiving that news is horrendous, she said. A phone call brings total devastation. She never worried about Gordon at school; school should be a safe place. Parents send kids for protection, not death. It feels like these lives mean nothing; it just keeps happening over and over. Nothing is being learned from these events.
Gordon Gault died after being stabbed near Elswick Park on November 9, 2022. Dionne was told about her youngest child struck with a machete. A fight broke out near Elswick Park, and people tried to help the teen. He collapsed after the fight and went to the Royal Victoria Infirmary. He spent six days in intensive care, and he died in Dionne’s arms.
One month later, Dionne helped launch a campaign called Stop Knives Taking Lives, and she begged young people to avoid weapons. Two years after the attack, Dionne spoke; keeping Gordon’s memory alive keeps her going. She tries to prevent knife crime in his name. Harvey’s death made her feel unheard as it followed a stabbing at All Saints Catholic High School on Monday.
“It makes us sick,” she stated. “It’s getting worse all the time.” Nobody is learning, and nothing changes. The victims seem younger and younger. Change needs to happen very quickly; more families will suffer otherwise. This is incredibly frustrating for her; the longer this continues, the more kids think they can do it. They should fear getting caught with a knife.
All Saints school went into “lockdown,” Harvey was allegedly stabbed at lunchtime and later died from those injuries. A 15-year-old was arrested for murder. The school closed the next day, and students and neighbors left flowers, honoring the tragic loss outside the school.
Six teens were tried for Gordon’s murder at Newcastle Crown Court. All were cleared of the murder charge. Carlos Neto and Lawson Natty were convicted of manslaughter.
Neto, 18, who lived in Salford, delivered the fatal blow. He was jailed for nine years, two months. Natty lived in Newbiggin Hall, and his sentence was two years, eight months.
Last summer, Dionne got bad news: Natty, who ordered the machete, was freed early. The government has a scheme for prison overcrowding.
