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Nothing will ever bring back Craig

Exclusive by Helen Johnson
2/ 5/2008

THE family of a Belfield man killed after being hit by a stolen motorbike are relieved the man who caused his death is in jail.

Craig Brierley was 23 when Wayne Boland ploughed into him in Belfield Road on 30 January last year.

He was taken to Rochdale Infirmary with a broken pelvis, broken legs and internal injuries, and then transferred to North Manchester Hospital, but died nine days later.

Boland, 22, of Eafield Road, pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving, driving with no insurance and driving without a licence when he appeared at Bolton Crown Court. He was jailed for four years and six months and banned from driving for five years.

Craig’s parents, Craig senior and Tina, and his aunt Michelle Lomax, said they were relieved that Boland had been given a custodial sentence, but nothing would ever bring Craig back.

They also revealed their anguish that 14 months on from his death, they are still waiting for an inquest to take place to establish exactly how he died.

Craig senior said: "We need to know how he died. It’s been a nightmare waiting for an inquest and for the case to come to court.

"Boland is going to prison, his face will be off the streets for a few years, but we’ll never see Craig ever again.

"I looked at him as he was being sentenced and I saw genuine remorse on his face. He looked like he was about to start bawling.

"He knew Craig but you couldn’t describe them as close friends.

"Craig always worked hard. He had been an hod carrier since he was 15.

"He lost his job the week before the accident, and a few hours before it happened, he’d been with his grandma and then at a job interview.

"Craig’s brother and sister, Steven and Stacey, are still just as devastated as we are, 14 months on."

Mrs Brierley said: "I’ve never seen so many people at a funeral.

"He had an infectious laugh. Everybody loved him so much.

"It’s very painful to still keep getting letters sent for him, but we do because there hasn’t been an inquest so we don’t have a death certificate yet."

Mrs Lomax added: "Craig was always the life and soul of any party.

"He was very well liked and had many friends, young and old.

"They all still regularly visit his grave at Rochdale Cemetery and leave little messages there. They haven’t forgotten him.

"You hear about cases where people are killed by drink drivers, who end up getting off with a ban. At least Boland got a prison sentence."

Craig and Boland had been taking it in turns to ride the bike when Boland, an acquaintance of Craig’s, smashed into him.

Boland fled the scene and later abandoned the blue Yamaha DTI125cc motorbike, which he had bought for £90 some days earlier, behind a nearby off-licence.

The bike was registered to another Rochdale man who had reported it stolen on 16 January 2007.

A spokesman from Rochdale’s coroner’s office confirmed that a date had not yet been set for Craig’s inquest.

Any criminal proceedings surrounding a death must be resolved before an inquest is held.