United in grief

The hearse carrying murdered policewoman Nicola Hughes is driven from the cathedral as officers line the streets in tribute

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THOUSANDS of members of the public stood shoulder to shoulder with police officers as the funeral cortege for PC Nicola Hughes passed through the centre of Manchester.

They responded to the call from GMP for “decent people” to come out and pay their respects to the officer, from Diggle, who was killed in the line of duty at the age of 23.

PC Hughes and colleague Fiona Bone, whose funeral was taking place today, died after what appeared to be a routine burglary call to a house in Hattersley on September 18.

The funeral cortege set off from Diggle to the service in Manchester. Police motorcycle outriders provided a guard of honour ahead of the cortege, led by the funeral carriage pulled by six horses from GMP’s mounted unit and bearing the coffin shrouded in black cloth.

Officers who walked behind were met with applause by the crowds who lined Deansgate. The clapping continued until the first chime was sounded at Manchester Cathedral to mark a period of silence before the service began.

The family of PC Hughes led mourners into the cathedral, including her mother Susan, father Bryn and younger brother Sam, while the coffin was carried by colleagues.

Officers from forces nationwide volunteered to cover the shifts of GMP colleagues so they could be among the 1,000 mourners inside the cathedral — many who worked in the Tameside division alongside PC Hughes.

GMP chief Sir Peter Fahy told the congregation that PC Hughes “set high standards for herself” and “impressed everyone with her dedication and her cheerfulness” in her three years of service with the force.

“It is abhorrent that she met her death through an evil, dark act, but the best tribute we can make to her memory is that we continue to uphold the standards and the style of policing she demonstrated so well. We will never forget her great sacrifice,” he said.


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