'They wanted to be together forever and now they are': Manchester Arena inquiry hears of love between Chloe Rutherford and Liam Curry

South Shields teenagers Chloe Rutherford and Liam Curry had their life planned out ahead of them when the couple died in the bomb attack, the Manchester Arena inquiry has heard.
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Liam Curry, 19, and Chloe Rutherford, 17, died when Salman Abedi detonated his homemade backpack bomb at the end of an Ariana Grande concert on May 22, 2017 - in August his brother Hashem was told he will serve 22 life sentences for helping him.

“They wanted to be together forever and now they are,” Liam’s mother Caroline told the hearing.

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Paul Greaney QC, counsel to the inquiry said: “This is, as their family wished it to be described, their love story.”

Liam Curry and Chloe Rutherford planned to spend the rest of their lives together, the Manchester Arena inquiry was told.Liam Curry and Chloe Rutherford planned to spend the rest of their lives together, the Manchester Arena inquiry was told.
Liam Curry and Chloe Rutherford planned to spend the rest of their lives together, the Manchester Arena inquiry was told.
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Young performers to remember South Shields couple Chloe Rutherford and Liam Curr...

Mrs Curry and Mark Rutherford, Chloe’s father, told their children’s stories as Chloe’s mother, Lisa, sat between them.

Mrs Curry told how her “gorgeous baby boy” came along in 1997 and two years later, Mr Rutherford said, his daughter Chloe, “pretty as an angel” was born.

Liam overcame dyslexia to do well at St Wilfrid’s RC College and studied sports science at Gateshead College then Northumbria University, with plans to join the police.

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The keen cricketer played as a junior for Durham and Marsden CC and met Chloe through her brother Scott.

Chloe, an apprentice in travel and tourism who studied music performance at Newcastle College, loved to be on stage and was a talented musician and singer-songwriter.

Mr Rutherford said: “She was growing up, growing up into a beautiful young lady with her life ahead of her.”

Liam’s father, Andrew, passed away two months before the bombing after a long illness, Chloe at his side as Liam comforted his mother and brother.

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The couple planned to buy a flat and get married and Chloe had spoken of having children.

The Chloe and Liam Together Forever Trust has been formed by their loved ones to support talented youngsters fulfil their dreams.

The tribute ended with a recording of Chloe singing Somewhere Only We Know, as photos were shared of the couple.

Sir John Saunders, inquiry chairman said: “All of us, here or watching remotely, will have found that intensely and profoundly moving and all our hearts go out to you.”

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The inquiry is probing the background and emergency response to the attack and is expected to run into next spring.

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