Biker was 'a perfect son' - mother
THE grieving mother of the first motorcyclist to die on Ulster roads this year last night described him as "a perfect son".
John McCrory, 19, from Cullybackey, died in hospital after he crashed his motorbike on the Shelling Hill Road in the village on Wednesday.
It is not thought any other vehicles were involved in the accident, which took place at around 5.15pm.
The teenager is the seventh person to lose their life on our roads this year, compared with 18 in the same period last year.
Last night, his mother Sandra said: "He was a perfect son. He was a quiet fella."
Mrs McCrory said she and her family were still in great shock after her son's death, adding he "did not ride motorbikes often".
It is understood the young man had been travelling the short distance from his home to get petrol for his motor-bike when the accident happened.
Mr McCrory, an electrician, was an employee of JBE Building Services in Ballymena, an electrical contractor.
DUP Cullybackey councillor Tommy Nicholl said he believed Mr McCrory had left his mother's house for the short journey to get petrol for his motorbike when the accident occurred.
"The whole of Cullybackey is in shock, it's just so tragic. There's nothing more we can do for the family, other than let them know that we're praying for them."
Mr McCrory was an employee of JBE Building Services in Ballymena, an electrical contractor.
Ballymena councillor John Frew had worked with the teenager as part of a 17-man group at the town's JTI Gallahers site.
The DUP councillor told the News Letter: "He was moved to a different site on the Wednesday, and by the Wednesday night this had happened.
"He was a quiet big fella who just kept his head down and got on with his work."
Mr Frew said one young man working at the site, who was close friends with John, was sent home yesterday because he was too upset to work.
SDLP MLA for North Antrim, Declan O'Loan, expressed his sympathy to John's family and said: "All deaths on our roads are tragic, and that of a young person is all the more so.
"This will have been heart-breaking news for the family and the thoughts of the entire local community are with them.
"Despite the very welcome news that there was not a single road death in February, our roads are still very dangerous places and all road users must be very aware of their responsibilities."
John's funeral service will be held at 2.30pm on Sunday, March 21, in Ballymena Free Presbyterian Church with interment afterwards in Cullybackey New Cemetery.
He will be missed by his parents, William and Sandra, sister Julie, his wider family circle and close friends.
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Sunday 27 May 2012
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