Olivia Pratt Korbel's family and friends line streets for intimate 'splash of pink' funeral after tragic shooting

Olivia Pratt Korbel's family and friends line streets for intimate 'splash of pink' funeral after tragic shooting
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Tom Evans

By Tom Evans


Published: 15/09/2022

- 11:59

Updated: 14/02/2023

- 10:39

Nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel has been remembered with a “splash of pink” on the day of her funeral

The funeral mass for the schoolgirl, who was shot at her home in Dovecot, Liverpool, began at 11am on Thursday at St Margaret Mary’s Church in Knotty Ash.

A notice from the family requested all those attending wore a "splash of pink".


In a eulogy, Olivia’s mum Cheryl Korbel said Olivia had been born six weeks early and spent nine days in a special baby unit.

She said: “She was so small, yet even as a newborn she had her own mind.”

Olivia Pratt-Korbel's coffin arrives at St Margaret Mary's Church in Knotty Ash, Liverpool in a horse-drawn carriage. The nine-year-old girl was shot at her home in Dovecot, Liverpool. Picture date: Thursday September 15, 2022.
Olivia Pratt-Korbel's family asked those attending to wear a 'splash of pink'
Peter Powell

Olivia Pratt-Korbel's coffin is carried into St Margaret Mary's Church in Knotty Ash, Liverpool. The nine-year-old girl was shot at her home in Dovecot, Liverpool. Picture date: Thursday September 15, 2022.
Olivia Pratt-Korbel's coffin
Peter Powell

Olivia was independent and even as a toddler would choose her own clothes, Ms Korbel added.

She continued: “Although she loved sparkle and glitz, she would never go overboard and she was very particular, even down to her socks...

“Olivia was very chatty and bubbly and would talk for England, to the point we thought she had Duracell batteries inside her somewhere.

"Liv touched so many people’s hearts and was loved and adored by everyone.

“She will never be forgotten.

“I will never say goodbye but what I will say is goodnight, love you, see you in the morning.”

Pupils at St Margaret Mary’s Junior School, next to the church, wore pink to remember their classmate, headteacher Rebecca Wilkinson said.

She said: “We were mindful of the fact that the children had to take some sort of role today, in spite of the fact that they’re not going to the church.

“The wishes of the family in church were that everyone wear a splash of pink so today in school the children are all wearing a splash of pink.

“We have got pink hearts in the windows facing the main road, we have got pink ribbons on the fence.”

Each of the 480 pupils at the school will be creating a flower which will form part of a memorial for Olivia, Mrs Wilkinson said.

And school uniform rules were relaxed to allow nail varnish.

Olivia Pratt-Korbel's coffin arrives at St Margaret Mary's Church in Knotty Ash, Liverpool in a horse-drawn carriage. The nine-year-old girl was shot at her home in Dovecot, Liverpool. Picture date: Thursday September 15, 2022.
Pupils at Olivia Pratt Korbel's school are making a memorial for her
Peter Powell

Olivia Pratt-Korbel's coffin arrives at St Margaret Mary's Church in Knotty Ash, Liverpool in a horse-drawn carriage. The nine-year-old girl was shot at her home in Dovecot, Liverpool. Picture date: Thursday September 15, 2022.
Olivia Pratt-Korbel's coffin was draped in flowers, while a purple teddy bear was positioned next to it
Peter Powell

Mrs Wilkinson said: “One of the amazing memories that the class teacher and children shared was one day Olivia came to school wearing pink nail varnish and she spent the whole day hiding her hands so that I wouldn’t see the fact she was wearing pink nail varnish!

“So for that reason, as well as a splash of pink, we have said that the children can wear pink nail varnish today if they so wish.”

Police are continuing to hunt or the gunman who chased convicted burglar Joseph Nee into Olivia’s family home at about 10pm on August 22.

Olivia died from a gunshot wound to her chest and her mother Cheryl Korbel, 46, was injured.

On Wednesday, founder of charity Crimestoppers Lord Ashcroft offered a £50,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of those responsible for her death.

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