Parents Pay Tribute to Grace O’Malley-Kumar, Nottingham Attack Victim

Grace O’Malley-Kumar, killed in Nottingham attacks ‘was too good to be true’, say parents Grace O’Malley-Kumar, a 19-year-old Irish citizen and medical student, was one of three people fatally stabbed in Nottingham on June 13, 2023, in an attack carried out by Valdo Calocane, who was suffering from paranoid schizophrenia at the time. Her parents, Dr Sinead O’Malley-Kumar and Dr Sanjoy Kumar, have spoken publicly about her life, character, and the profound impact of her loss. In a hand-drawn poster created when she was about seven years old, Grace outlined her identity with the words “½ Irish & ½ Indian,” reflecting her heritage. The poster included the Irish Tricolour, the flag of England—where she was born—and the flag of India, where her paternal grandparents were born. She adorned it with drawings of a hockey stick and cricket ball, noting her love for sports, and a stethoscope with the misspelled note “docter,” revealing her early ambition to become a doctor like her parents and grandparents. Grace went on to represent England at hockey and play county cricket for Essex. She was described by her parents as a kind, warm, and generous person who hated exclusion and consistently defended those who felt lonely. Her father said she “represented everything that is positive about a modern society in Britain and Ireland.” During the trial, Grace’s mother addressed Valdo Calocane in court, stating: “You are responsible for our ongoing pain and heartbreak. You are duplicitous and manipulative. You have shown no remorse. You understood right from wrong. You have violence in your soul.” The attack also claimed the lives of Barnaby Webber, another 19-year-old student, and Ian Coates, a 65-year-old school caretaker. Calocane was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 45 years after pleading guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility, though the prosecution had sought a murder conviction. Grace’s family continues to honor her memory, emphasizing the joy she brought to their lives and the bright future she had ahead of her as a aspiring doctor and athlete. Her story remains a poignant reminder of the human cost of violence and the enduring strength of familial love in the face of tragedy.