My son went to buy some sweets with his friends and never came home

A heartbroken mother has told how her son went to buy sweets with his friends when he was tragically killed. Harry Kinney-Ryan died after being hit by a car on East Lancashire Road, close to the Showcase Cinema.

Harry, 13, was walking home after going to buy some sweets at a nearby petrol station on December 7, 2022, when he ran across the roads and was hit by a silver Vauxhall Astra, which was driving more than 10 mph over the speed limit.

Harry died at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital two days later from his injuries, just a month before his 14th birthday. The driver of the car, Craig Griffiths, 36, of Frinsted Road in Norris Green, was convicted at Liverpool Crown Court on Friday, July 12, of causing Harry’s death by careless driving. He was imprisoned for 12 months.

Victim impact statements were read in court on Friday from Harry’s family, who said they will “never get over” his tragic death. Harry’s mother Elizabeth Ryan said: “My Harry. I am devastated, broken, not whole. My son Harry was only at the beginning of his life and never caused me any trouble.

“My son crossed the road that day to buy some sweets with his friends and never came back. I don’t want any other parent to be separated from their child. I’ll never feel whole again, I’ll always feel like a part of me is empty, I’m clinging to the happy, funny memories of him dressing up as Spider-Man.

Harry’s stepmother Leanne also read a statement on behalf of herself and Harry’s father Mark. She said: “Life was great for us, we had just celebrated our anniversary, we had a promotion at work. We were a hard-working family of five, looking forward to Christmas and the year ahead. Little Harry was 13 years old.

“He was a loving brother and adored his sisters. I had to pick up my girls from what they thought was a normal day and told them he had been hit by a car and was going to heaven.

“He’s the one who would take them on big rides at the fair, now all they have is his bedroom to cherish and his grave to visit. They (his sisters) often share a bed together now because they have nightmares. Mark and I had to go to counseling because of flashbacks from that day. You took Mark’s firstborn, best friend. This has changed us as parents, partners and friends.

“Harry’s death has caused so much devastation, I recently attended a family wedding and instead of Harry being there as he should have been there was a picture of him instead. All this was taken from us. No parent should ever be. arrange their child’s funeral.

“We grieve the Harry we lost and all the things he had yet to do. This will never be the same. I don’t think we will ever live another happy day on this earth and we will never forgive you for this.”

A tribute read by Harry’s older sister described how he too would dress up as a superhero and how the loss of her ‘baby’ brother had caused their world to crumble. Molly Ryan said in a statement: “When Harry was born I was five years old, just a little girl ready to meet her little brother. Best partner forever.

“Growing up together, it was impossible to keep up with whatever obsession he had at the time. But his obsession with superheroes never went away. He was almost always dressed as Spiderman, and when he wasn’t, he was Batman. He really thought he could fly.

“Harry was always curious about the world. He was just a little boy with a lot of things around him. He was interested in everything. The kind of person that people couldn’t forget. As much as I talk about Harry being a child, which is what he is still, he’s just a 13-year-old boy.

“I will never become an aunt or he an uncle, and that is something that has never left me. As our lives ground to a halt, our worlds collapsed around us. I would never wish to hate anyone, but I can’t bring myself to feel sorry for this man. Harry’s family and friends are heartbroken.”

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