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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Protest over dead biker's photo | Protest over dead biker's photo |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Around 250 motorcyclists have protested against a police chief's decision to show photographs of a decapitated biker without his family's permission. | Around 250 motorcyclists have protested against a police chief's decision to show photographs of a decapitated biker without his family's permission. |
| The images of Mark Gibney, 40, were shown by North Wales Police chief constable Richard Brunstrom at a closed road safety briefing for journalists. | The images of Mark Gibney, 40, were shown by North Wales Police chief constable Richard Brunstrom at a closed road safety briefing for journalists. |
| The force has apologised to the family and the Independent Police Complaints Commission is investigating the case. | The force has apologised to the family and the Independent Police Complaints Commission is investigating the case. |
| Mr Gibney's family, from Merseyside, organised the Llandudno demonstration. | Mr Gibney's family, from Merseyside, organised the Llandudno demonstration. |
| North Wales Police chief inspector Gary Ashton said: "The event appears to have passed off safely. | North Wales Police chief inspector Gary Ashton said: "The event appears to have passed off safely. |
| "We're fully aware of the nature of the protest. An IPCC investigation is still ongoing so we have no further comment to make at this time." | "We're fully aware of the nature of the protest. An IPCC investigation is still ongoing so we have no further comment to make at this time." |
| Police admitted permission to show the photos had not been sought | |
| Motorcyclists gathered on the promenade on Saturday morning, for what they say would be a peaceful protest. | |
| Some riders came from as far afield as Bournemouth and Fife in Scotland. | Some riders came from as far afield as Bournemouth and Fife in Scotland. |
| Mr Gibney's 42-year-old brother Paul, who is among those organising the event, is also a biker. | Mr Gibney's 42-year-old brother Paul, who is among those organising the event, is also a biker. |
| Last month, Mr Gibney's family met with the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) which is reviewing the case following a voluntary referral from the North Wales Police Authority. | Last month, Mr Gibney's family met with the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) which is reviewing the case following a voluntary referral from the North Wales Police Authority. |
| At the time, the family's solicitor Paul Beck said the meeting had gone well and had been a chance for the relatives to express their feelings about the case. | At the time, the family's solicitor Paul Beck said the meeting had gone well and had been a chance for the relatives to express their feelings about the case. |
| Mr Gibney's father William, 64, said: "The family's heartbroken...I took it at the time but it took a long time to get over it and then this has made it, it's like 50 times worse than the original when it happened." | Mr Gibney's father William, 64, said: "The family's heartbroken...I took it at the time but it took a long time to get over it and then this has made it, it's like 50 times worse than the original when it happened." |
| He said the ride was important as it was the family's only way of protesting. | He said the ride was important as it was the family's only way of protesting. |
| Motorcyclists were also outraged at the photographs being shown | |
| "I think it will help a little bit of the hurt," he added. | "I think it will help a little bit of the hurt," he added. |
| Mr Gibney died in 2003 when his bike crashed on a bend on the B5105 between Cerrigydrudion and Ruthin in Denbighshire. | Mr Gibney died in 2003 when his bike crashed on a bend on the B5105 between Cerrigydrudion and Ruthin in Denbighshire. |
| An image of his severed head lying on a grass verge was shown to journalists and council officials during a private road safety presentation by Mr Brunstrom on 26 April. | An image of his severed head lying on a grass verge was shown to journalists and council officials during a private road safety presentation by Mr Brunstrom on 26 April. |
| His headless torso was also shown as well as photographs of the bodies of two young men killed in a separate crash. | His headless torso was also shown as well as photographs of the bodies of two young men killed in a separate crash. |
| Afterwards, Mr Brunstrom claimed the pictures had been shown in confidence and accused some sections of the media of "distorting" the meeting. | Afterwards, Mr Brunstrom claimed the pictures had been shown in confidence and accused some sections of the media of "distorting" the meeting. |
| Mr Brunstrom said the images were shown in confidence | |
| He also defended his actions saying he had shown the images to "give the context" of his anti-speeding campaign. | He also defended his actions saying he had shown the images to "give the context" of his anti-speeding campaign. |
| The force apologised to the family "for the distress caused by the publicity" but this was rejected by the relatives who announced they were taking legal advice. | The force apologised to the family "for the distress caused by the publicity" but this was rejected by the relatives who announced they were taking legal advice. |
| They want the chief constable to quit or be sacked. | They want the chief constable to quit or be sacked. |
| The decision to show the photographs has also attracted criticism from several politicians including Welsh Secretary Peter Hain who described it as: "completely unacceptable". | |
| But writing in his weblog, Mr Brunstrom said those attending the anti-speeding briefing had seen images which would not be "released into the public domain." | But writing in his weblog, Mr Brunstrom said those attending the anti-speeding briefing had seen images which would not be "released into the public domain." |