Paige Doherty: Family mark five year's since Clydebank teen's death

She was juggling two children at primary school, a newborn son and her teenage daughter Paige.

The seemingly unimportant conversations with her 15-year-old in the days prior to her disappearance are now etched in her mind as she replays her last moments with her eldest child before the family’s world was turned upside down five years ago on March 19, 2016.

That Saturday started like any other but as the day came to a close, Pamela, who is also mum to five other children, knew in her heart she would never see her little girl alive again.

“Five years ago my life was normal,” she said, “I didn’t have all this – the grief, the trolling.

Paige and Pamela

“I’m just a normal person and the things I’ve had to face, because somebody decided to take my wee girl’s life, it’s unimaginable.

“My fiancé Alan is still so surprised by how our lives are. He’ll say ‘I wasn’t there, I didn’t go through it and I don’t understand it all,’. I think most people think like that, but I’m glad he’s here.”

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Paige vanished while buying breakfast at Delicious Deli in Clydebank early on March 19, 2016, just minutes from her family home.

What followed was a nationwide appeal to trace the popular schoolgirl as Scotland held its breath hoping for her safe return.

Paige and Andrew

Tragedy struck just two days later when her body was discovered in the bushes at the side of Great Western Road in Drumchapel.

It was later revealed the brave teen fought for her life as she was stabbed more than 160 times.

It may have been five years since Paige’s brutal murder, but for her doting mum time has stood still.

Her daughter’s “angelic smile and warm personality” are constantly on her mind.

She said: “You remember it all so clearly, but then, at the same time, you don’t. Things will pop into your head and you’ll think ‘oh, I forgot about that’.

“I can’t believe it’s been five years since I last spoke to her. It seems like five minutes. She’s still such a massive part of my life and she always will be.”

In the five years following her death, the teen’s family has opened the Paige’s Promise charity and recently began a university degree in criminology with the aim of helping other families facing the tragic death of loved ones.

Paige

It’s something she feels Paige would be proud of, however, it’s bittersweet knowing she’s not here to see how her legacy is helping others.

Pamela and her family have remained close with the schoolgirl’s group of friends and she’s watched them grow from schoolchildren to young women, all the while knowing she won’t get to see her daughter reach the same milestones.

She said: “She had her head screwed on, she would’ve been doing good things.

“I see the other girls passing their driving tests and graduating university and think ‘that should be her’.

“She should be 21 next month and she would’ve loved that. Turning 18 and 21 were big deals for her and she missed out on both.

“I should be helping her buy her first house. I could’ve been a gran - I doubt it - but you never know. I’ll never have that with her.”

Now, her eldest son Andrew has celebrated his 15th birthday – the same age his sister was when she died – it’s an event the 37-year-old knew was coming, but one she’s dreaded.

“It’s always in the back of my mind thinking ‘will he make it past that age?’,” she said.

“I think I’ll feel that way with every kid, I know that might sound daft to some, but it’s a fear I’ll always have.

“Knowing his next birthday, he’ll overtake her age-wise is really strange as well. People say he’s my eldest now, but he’ll always be my second born. Paige will always be my eldest.”

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In previous years the family, who live in Bishopbriggs, escape the harsh reality of their “week from hell” by visiting a holiday park where they honour the teenager.

However, the coronavirus restrictions mean their getaway won’t be possible this year.

Instead, Pamela and her children - Andrew, Peyton, Lucas, Penny and Malachai - as well as partner Alan Brown will gather at their home at 7.30pm tonight for a balloon release and candle lighting ceremony to remember the day their world changed.

Pamela and Alan

Following Paige’s death, the outpouring of grief extended across the nation, with celebrities and First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, paying tribute.

Pamela hopes those who helped remember her beloved daughter following her disappearance will honour her again by joining in this evening.