Funeral Procession for Lyhanna: “We Are Sorry for What You Went Through”

Fleurance – 06/07/2026: On June 7, 2026, around 6,000 people gathered in Fleurance, a small town in the Gers department, for a funeral procession to commemorate 11-year-old Lyhanna. The schoolgirl was found dead on June 4 after having disappeared on May 29.

The procession began at 3 p.m. at Square de Verdun and led through the main streets of the town to Place Marcadet. Participants wore white clothing, held white roses and T-shirts with a picture of Lyhanna. The procession was led by her parents and brother, who carried a white flag with the inscription “Plus jamais ça!” (“Never again!”).

A moving ceremony took place in front of Collège Hubert-Reeves, Lyhanna’s school. Her parents laid down T-shirts bearing the inscription “Plus jamais ça!” and a photo of their daughter. A maternal aunt read a letter from the mother stating, “Our little world has collapsed.” This was followed by a minute of silence.

The family thanked everyone present for the widespread support and expressed their deep grief over the loss of their daughter. The mayor of Fleurance, Grégory Bobbato, criticized the system in his speech, which he believes had failed. He urgently called for changes to prevent such tragedies in the future.

The main suspect in the case is Jérôme Barella, a 41-year-old father. He denies any involvement in Lyhanna’s death. After his arrest, he was questioned by investigators but refused to testify. Barella had previously been reported multiple times for sexual offenses against minors, some of which had been dismissed.

The case has caused nationwide shock and raised questions about the effectiveness of the justice system. On behalf of the judiciary, Minister Gérald Darmanin publicly apologized to Lyhanna’s family. President Emmanuel Macron described the events as “unacceptable” and reaffirmed the need for reforms in child protection and the justice system.

The investigation is ongoing to clarify the exact circumstances of Lyhanna’s death and to examine potential failures in handling previous reports against the suspect. The community of Fleurance has announced further measures to improve child protection and prevent similar tragedies in the future.

The overwhelming commitment of the population and the urgent call for systemic changes reflect the deep shock over Lyhanna’s death and the strong desire for justice.