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Katie Amess arrives in Westminster for a meeting with PM Boris Johnson, 2022 (Alamy)
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Katie Amess arrives in Westminster for a meeting with PM Boris Johnson, 2022 (Alamy)
USA News

David Amess’ daughter: ‘I’ll see my dad in heaven’

by Anna Rees

David Amess’ daughter says her Catholic faith is the reason she has been able to process her father’s murder, as she criticises the anti-terror programme Prevent for “failing upon failing”.

Katie Amess told the Times“My faith is the reason that I’ve been able to get through this, because I believe I’ll see my dad in heaven. If I didn’t think that, I don’t know how I could carry on.”

The 39-year-old is the second of five Amess children. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, and attends choir at their local Catholic church.

David Amess MP was a committed Catholic. On October 15th 2021, he was stabbed to death by an Islamic extremist at his constituency surgery, in Belfairs Methodist Church Hall in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex.

Ali Harbi Ali, who is now serving a whole life order for the murder, is believed to have masqueraded as a Christian, and cited concerns about falling congregation numbers  as the reason he sought an audience with the Southend West MP. 

At the time, the Amess family said: “It breaks our heart to know that our husband and father would have greeted the murderer with a smile of friendship and would have been anxious to help.” 

A memorial to David Amess (Alamy)

Amess was stabbed over 20 times. A coroner’s report revealed arteries were targeted; Ali had planned the attack based on an ISIS  video, instructing recruits how to murder. His plan was to later be shot by police, and made an Islamist martyr.

Ali had been reported to the anti-terror programme Prevent. In 2015, an 18-year old Ali was visited by a Prevent officer. He was supposed to have a follow-up meeting which never transpired.

At the murder trial, Ali told the court: “I just knew to nod my head and say yes and they would leave me alone afterwards, and they did.”

Police told the Amess family that the second follow-up was missed due to “an admin error”. A further twelve-month review was also missed due to there being “nothing of concern” revealed in the first meeting.

Katie said: “He was reported. People were trying to help us. And so why was he allowed to just go on and do whatever he wanted for seven years? What happened to my dad should not have been an admin error.”

Three years on, she says: “It’s pretty obvious that Prevent isn’t fit for purpose, it has consistently failed people.

“It failed me. It failed my family catastrophically, it failed the public and also it failed other members of parliament.

“What has been changed to ensure that this never happens again and that another family doesn’t have to go through the absolute heartbreak and trauma that has just shattered our world?”

Amess has been described as “compassionate and kind”, and a “God-fearing” politician.

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