As children ran and played in Rochdale town centre this afternoon, crowds gathered to remember one who will never be able to do that again - Awaab Ishak.
While the news that Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) boss Gareth Swarbrick had today been removed from his position by the board brought on the biggest cheers, the atmosphere was not one of celebration but of outrage. "We shouldn't have to be here today," one man put it. "Awaab should be here, playing, today."
The vigil was organised by Greater Manchester Tenants Union (GMTU) following the coroner's ruling this week that Awaab died after prolonged exposure to damp and mould at his home on the Freehold estate in Rochdale. Awaab's home was described by experts as 'unfit for human habitation' but the housing association did not act to sort out the problems. His family repeatedly asked for help but their cries were ignored.
