My brother was killed by a lorry 34 years ago – I’ve put up billboards …
THE brother of a schoolboy mowed down by a lorry told how he feels like he’s been forced to launch his own investigation into the horror 34 years on.
Danny Leech was just seven when he was killed as he walked to a carnival with his teenage cousin.
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John Leech and his mum Linda on Lochee Road, Dundee, in front of the billboardCredit: Michael Schofield
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Danny Leech was just seven when he was killed as he walked to a carnival with his teenage cousin.Credit: Supplied
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They hope the billboards will bring new informationCredit: Michael Schofield
His family accused cops of failing to do their jobs properly and believe they’ve spent decades trying to cover up what happened by blaming the tragic youngster.
Now his brother John, 45, is on a quest to get answers. Together with mum Linda, 67, he’s paid for billboards in Dundee[1] appealing for anyone who saw what happened to come forward.
Mechanic John revealed that in real life he’s got the grim task of talking to people who saw his brother’s final moments.
John said: “I’ve spoken to the passerby who held my brother after he died.
“It’s horrific. I shouldn’t have to hear things like that, but I feel like I have to. If the police aren’t going to do their job then who else will do it?
“It’s taken over a big part of my life and it really has become a full-time job in itself. But it is the right thing to do.”
Energetic Danny was out with cousin Karen, 13, when he was knocked down by a lorry and killed in September 1989.
Danny’s family claim cops were not interested in investigating and let driver Colin Nicoll leave the scene after just 30 minutes as well as ignoring witnesses.
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When John’s mum and dad, also John, were told there would be no criminal charges brought they started a civil case in 1992.
But that was derailed by a police statement that suddenly appeared in the case files from Karen claiming Danny ran into the path of the lorry.
She claims she was not in a fit state to talk to cops at the time and the family are adamant the document is fake.
John said: “This is them trying to blame my brother for what happened. Why would they do that?
“But my cousin is still alive and she knows she never gave a statement. We put our faith in the police to do the right thing and they haven’t.
“They’re trying to cover it up but it won’t be washed away as easily that.”
The events of that night had a huge impact on the family but John, now a dad himself, reckons he was shielded from the worst of it.
It was only years later as his father was dying that he realised the full extent of what had been going on for decades.
John said: “We talked about things my dad was proud of and any regrets he had.
“He said he was unhappy he’d never got to the bottom of what happened to my brother.
“He was really upset about it. I found it sad we only had the conversation at the end.”
John is now determined to finally get answers after two internal police probes found no issues with the investigation. He hopes the billboards might lead to some new information.
They are located on a busy route in Dundee where motorists have to stop at traffic lights.
A mobile billboard is also touring the city and has visited the scene of the incident.
While the family have set up Facebook page Danny Leech 1989[2] for witnesses to get in touch with them.
John said: “The driver is still out there and has never faced justice. Danny was only seven.
“I need everyone to know that we will never back down and we will never give up until we right all the wrongs for him.”
The Police Investigations and Review Commissioner launched a probe earlier this year and found complaints relating to the investigation were dealt with to a “reasonable standard”.
A Police Scotland[3] spokesman added: “Police Scotland’s Professional Standards Department investigated a complaint relating to dissatisfaction as to how Tayside Police conducted an investigation in 1989 into the death of Daniel Leech.
“In September 2022, the complainant was updated as to the outcome of the complaints investigation upon its conclusion.”
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A mobile billboard is also touring the city and has visited the scene of the incident.
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References
- ^ Dundee (www.thescottishsun.co.uk)
- ^ Danny Leech 1989 (www.facebook.com)
- ^ Police Scotland (www.thescottishsun.co.uk)
- ^ [email protected] (www.thescottishsun.co.uk)