IN PICTURES and VIDEO: Pride and honour as sports hall dedicated to Tunisia terror attack victim Joel Richards
"I wish Joel had been a Premier League referee and he was here unveiling his own plaque for his own merits - not having to do it like this."
The heartbreaking words of the mother of Tunisia terror victim Joel Richards as a sports hall in his hometown was named after him.
The Joel Richards Sports Hall was unveiled by his younger brother Owen at the official opening of Wednesbury Leisure Centre.
Joel, 19, was murdered in the terror attack in Sousse in June, alongside his uncle Adrian Evans and grandfather Patrick Evans - while Owen survived.
The boys' mother Suzy said the loss of three members of a close-knit family group had left 'a big void', but 16-year-old Owen has been a rock.
Suzy, 46, said: "I'm unbelievably proud but also very emotional.
"There were lots of tears because it's so sad that this had to happen.
"It was heartbreaking for me, my mum and Owen and there's a big void in our lives now.
"We went from a family of six to a family of three within 24 hours."
She added: "For Owen especially it's so difficult to have to deal with such a big loss at such a young age.
"Owen has saved us.
"The three of us all work together.
"He's grown up a lot and now he knows what's important in life.
"What happened puts things into perspective."
Owen unveiled the plaque at a ceremony yesterday then headed into the sparkling new sports hall to have a quick hit-out at badminton and table tennis with his school friends.
The teenager has shown courage and inner strength beyond his years to deal with the aftermath of the tragedy.
Suzy said he takes after his older brother - who was on course to become a Premier League referee - and is now looking to follow the same career.
Although he only lived to 19, his mother said Joel 'achieved more than some people do in their whole lives'.
Saddlers fan Joel, a former pupil at the town's Stuart Bathurst and Wood Green schools, was a keen sportsman and promising football referee.
"He brought the best out of everybody," Suzy said.
"Joel was just so kind and had a great character.
"Owen is immensely proud of his brother and is now hoping to take refereeing up himself."
Six months on from the tragedy, the emotional scars still run deep for Suzy, her mother Maureen and Owen.
But sticking together has helped them come through.
Owen, who turned 16 just a month before the attack, has started sixth form at Stuart Bathurst RC High School and College in Wednesbury.
He is studying PE, maths and biology at A-level.
"We're still feeling it really hard," Suzy said.
"The tributes are lovely but it's very emotional and there's a big void.
"We are all staying strong for Owen.
"My motto is 'if Owen can do it, then we can'.
"Getting through each day isn't easy."
Emotional Sandwell Council leader Darren Cooper said: "None of us need to be reminded of the dreadful events that took place earlier this year in Tunisia.
"As a council we took the decision to name the sports hall after Joel Richards.
"No-one can underestimate the feeling across Sandwell about the tragic news about these people who were so brutally murdered on holiday in Tunisia.
"We wanted to name this new sports hall after Joel because we knew he was a keen sports enthusiast, so as a council we talked to the family and decided we would do it."
