Alfie Evans funeral: Mourners line Liverpool's streets as toddler's cortege is driven past Everton's Goodison Park

Fiona Simpson14 May 2018

Mourners lined Liverpool’s streets to pay tribute to Alfie Evans as the toddler’s funeral cortege passed the home ground of his favourite football club.

Blue and white flowers spelling “our hero”, "son" and "blue" adorned a hearse carrying the 23-month-old’s tiny white coffin painted with toy soldiers and the words “Alfie’s Army” as it journeyed past Goodison Park.

Mourners gathered outside the Everton ground carrying floral tributes, clapping as the procession passed the stadium.

A private funeral was held for the toddler following his final journey.

Alfie Evans Funeral - In pictures

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Alfie died on April 28 after battling a degenerative brain condition.

Doctors at Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool stopped providing life-support treatment to Alfie after his parents, Tom Evans and Kate James, lost two rounds of fights in the High Court, Court of Appeal, Supreme Court and European Court of Human Rights.

Toddler Alfie Evans
PA

Mr Evans and Ms James had hoped to take their son to a hospital in Rome.

Mr Evans is a fervent Everton supporter and had spoken of his hopes to take his son to watch the Blues in action.

Last week Merseyside Police said they would send a small number of officers to the funeral to offer support for those attending but stressed it would not be open to the public or media.

Flowers on the hearse read 'son' and 'our hero'
PA

In a post on the Alfie's Army Facebook page, Alfie's uncle Daniel Evans said: "The funeral will be private due to family's wishes, we ask that no one turns up unless you have been personally invited by Thomas and Kate as there's a limited number of people who are allowed to attend, invitations are currently being sorted out for family and close friends. Thank you all for your support."

Tearful mourners pay tribute to Alfie Evans
PA

During the protracted legal battle, Alder Hey Children's Hospital said staff had experienced "unprecedented personal abuse" as it found itself at the centre of a "social media storm" as a result of the case.

Protesters attempted to storm the hospital on one occasion and blocked the road outside during demonstrations against the withdrawal of his life-support treatment.

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