Mother pays fond tribute a year after son's death in park

Clare Conroy marked the anniversary of her eight-year-old son's death by planting an apple tree in the grounds of his school.

It is a year this month since Daniel Conroy-Curtin was killed by a car as he played with his friends in Riverside Park, near the River Tees, on Teesside. He died in hospital nine days later.

The driver of the car, Ashley Lindo, of Orwell Street, Middlesbrough, was jailed for three years, and could be out by Christmas with good behaviour.

Ms Conroy said knowing that Daniel's organs had been donated to five people had helped her to cope.

And sitting on the friendship bench at Ayresome Park School, in Middlesbrough, where Daniel was a pupil and which was installed in his memory, she said it all seemed like yesterday.

She said: "I know it's been a year since, but I keep having the same flashbacks of every detail since he got knocked down.

"I cannot believe it's a year. It feels like just yesterday. I think of it every day. He was in hospital for nine days. I remember holding Daniel's hand. I kept on talking to Daniel and saying 'wake up'."

Ms Conroy had to make the heartbreaking decision to take Daniel off a life-support machine after doctors told her there was no hope.

"Honestly, I don't know how I have coped," said Ms Conroy, whose home in Ayresome Park is filled with her son's pictures.

"I really don't know how I have got this far."

But she said working part-time at Daniel's school, helping children with behavioural difficulties, had helped.

She said: "I haven't found myself able to move on with what happened to Daniel, but the work at the school provides some comfort. I help the children and I talk to them, calm them down and work with them to manage their anger before they get in trouble.

"I think I get most of the skills from Daniel. It's great to be able to help other children."

Middlesbrough Council is trying to prevent unauthorised vehicles from entering Riverside Park, with barriers.