Funerals held for murdered GMP officers

The funerals for the Greater Manchester Police (GMP) officers killed in a gun and grenade attack took place last week.

Thousands joined massed ranks from police forces across the country to line the streets of central Manchester to honour PCs Nicola Hughes, 23, and Fiona Bone, 32, bringing the city’s busiest streets to a standstill. Several rail companies gave free travel to the hundreds of off-duty officers who went to the services.

The pair were killed while on duty in Mottram, Greater Manchester, on September 18 when answering a call over a suspected burglary. Dale Cregan, 29, is currently on trial for the killings, as well as two other counts of murder and four charges of attempted murder.

PC Hughes was laid to rest in Manchester Cathedral on Wednesday, with PC Bone’s funeral taking place the following day. GMP held a day-long Twitter silence from midday Wednesday.

Chief Constable Peter Fahy led the tributes, saying the officers “exemplified the very best of British policing” and praising the response from other forces, who all sent two officers to Manchester as cover for GMP officers attending the funerals.

He said: “In the midst of this darkness we`ve been hugely uplifted by the support of the public but particularly from the support of our colleagues not only across the police forces from the UK but indeed across the world.”

Speaking at the funeral for PC Hughes, Mr Fahy praised her “huge amounts of energy and initiative” and added how tragic it was for her death to curtail a promising career.

“She will be greatly missed by everyone who knew her. We will never forget her great sacrifice,” he said.

He also spoke of “warmth, maturity and humanity” of PC Bone at her service the following day, saying that “helping people and building community spirit was at the heart of everything she did.”

Chief Superintendent Derek Barnett, president of the Police Superintendents’ Association of England and Wales, paid tribute to the PCs at both services, also thanking the public for their condolences and support of the police during the difficult aftermath.

“If there is any comfort to be found, it has been in the tremendously warm, genuine and spontaneous outpouring of support by the public, not only the thousands here in Manchester today but across the whole of the country,” he said.

Sir Hugh Orde, president of the Association of Chief Police Officers, praised the unity shown by fellow officers in the aftermath of the murder.

“Policing is a police family and there is a real desire for every officer from every force to pay their respects in the best way they could, whilst still delivering a 24-hour service,” he said.

Yvette Cooper, the Shadow Home Secretary, also paid tribute during a speech at the Labour Party Conference in Manchester on the day of PC Hughes’ funeral.

She said: “The police have gathered from across the country, and so today have we. So we join them, the people of Manchester, the Prime Minister, the Home Secretary and the country in paying tribute to those brave officers and to all our emergency services, as we bid those officers farewell.”

Sergeant Stephen Miskell was a colleague of both PCs and recalled their friendliness and excellent service to the public.

He described PC Hughes as “friendly, full of life, always willing to give a helping hand” and added her early entry into the force was an example of her dedication.

“It is rare for someone aged only 20 to pass the recruitment process, but Nicola was very rare,” he said.

Sgt Miskell also spoke at the funeral for PC Bone, calling her “a perfect police officer” and a caring person who always cheered up her colleagues.

“Fiona represented the best that humanity has to offer the world but that makes her loss even greater,” he said.

The Police Federation announced they would sell charity wristbands in honour of the officers, with all funds raised donated to their families.20,000 have so far been released, ins