‘Loving’ dads who died in police-chase crash
THE two men who died after a police chase ended in a horror crash have been named as pals Tommy Sharp and Paddy Connors.
Tributes have poured in for the pair following the tragedy in Salford on Wednesday night.
Friends and family flooded Facebook with pictures of the men, who were both married and had children.
Scores of touching messages have been posted.
Tommy, 27, was a father-of-two. He lived with his wife Delilah and young children in Salford. Nicknamed ‘Mush’, he was ‘the life of the party’.
Loved ones told the M.E.N. Tommy was a ‘loving and caring dad, husband, brother and uncle’.
Kathleen Berry, who is married to Tommy’s nephew, said he treated her ‘like his own niece’. She lovingly called him ‘Uncle Mush’.
In a message to Tommy, penned with husband Alan McDonagh, Kathleen said: “From all of us, Uncle Mush, we all love you. A legend, the one and only Tommy Sharp. You will never be forgotten. We would all give anything in the world to have you back. The baby of the family, rest in peace, our legend. We all love and miss you.”
Paddy, who was in his 30s, leaves behind a wife and four children. He is understood to have lived in Wigan.
Kathleen Connors, Paddy’s cousin, said: “It’s a very big loss for us all. He was a kind, loving, easy-going person. Everyone loved Paddy. Paddy adored his wife and children. I can’t believe this has happened. May he rest in peace. May God mind and protect his wife and children.”
Speaking about Paddy’s friend, Ms Connors added: “RIP, Tommy. May God be with his family at this sad time. My thoughts and prayers are with them all.”
O n Thursday evening, balloons were released in Paddy and Tommy’s memory at the scene of the tragedy.
A vigil was held for the two men, who were said to have been close friends. Police attended to ensure people were safe. Officers in an unmarked police car pursued a vehicle being driven ‘at speed’ on Frederick Road at around 11.40pm on Wednesday.
The vehicle crashed with two other
cars, police said. The two men inside that car - now named as Tommy and Paddy - died at the scene.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) later confirmed three people unconnected to the chase – two women and a man – were in one of the vehicles which was hit.
They were taken to hospital with injuries later deemed not to be lifethreatening.
The IOPC has launched an investigation into the pursuit, which is understood to have been brief.
In an earlier statement, Greater Manchester Police said: “In line with normal procedure, this incident has been referred to GMP’s Professional Standards Branch and the IOPC.”
A police cordon was in place on Frederick Road - from Broad Street to Lissadel Street - following the smash.
A high-performance Audi belonging to GMP was seen inside the cordon, along with three other vehicles.
A silver vehicle could be seen directly behind the Audi.