Funeral procession in Fleurance: 6,000 people remember the deceased Lyhanna

Fleurance – 07.06.2026: On Sunday, June 7, 2026, about 6,000 people gathered in Fleurance, a town in the Gers department, for a ceremony in memory of the 11-year-old student Lyhanna. The event began at 3 p.m. in Verdun Square, near the Collège Hubert-Reeves, the last known place where the girl was.

Lyhanna disappeared on May 29, 2026, and was found dead on June 4, 2026, in an abandoned agricultural silo in Puycasquier, about 15 kilometers south of Fleurance. The autopsy confirmed the identity of the minor, while the exact circumstances of her death remain under investigation.

Lyhanna’s parents were the initiators of the organization of the commemorative event and participated personally. They thanked the mayor of Fleurance for his support and also invited the mayors of neighboring towns to join the event. However, they emphasized in an official statement that they did not want political presence.

During the ceremony, participants wore white clothing and carried flowers in their hands. Many wore T-shirts with the phrase “Plus jamais ça” (“Never again something like this”) and held banners with similar messages. The atmosphere was marked by deep mourning and solidarity.

Lyhanna’s family expressed moving words during the ceremony. An aunt read a letter from the mother that said: “Our little world has completely collapsed.” Finally, she addressed Lyhanna: “Forgive me, Lyhanna. Forgive me for what you have experienced. We love you very much.”

Mayor Grégory Bobbato harshly criticized the judicial system during his speech. He said: “They want us to believe that this tragedy, which affects Lyhanna’s family, is just a failure in a system that generally works.” He added: “For too long we have tolerated a system that suffocates instead of listening, that deters instead of encouraging.”

In Lyhanna’s case, the main suspect is Jérôme Barella, a 41-year-old family man who had already been reported several times for sexual assaults on minors. Despite these accusations, he was never interrogated by judicial authorities. The ceremony ended with a minute of silence in honor of Lyhanna.

The tragedy has profoundly shocked not only the local community but also caused national outrage. President Emmanuel Macron called the incident “unacceptable” and stressed that there is clearly a failure. The Minister of Justice, Gérald Darmanin, apologized on behalf of the justice system to Lyhanna’s family.

The case highlights deficiencies in handling clues about sexual violence against minors and reinforces the demand for reforms within the judicial and police systems. The broad solidarity shown at the commemorative event signals the public’s desire for better protection of childhood and consistent criminal prosecution against offenders.