I’m being guided from beyond the grave
TWIN BELIEVES HE’S GUIDING HER FROM BEYOND THE GRAVE
LOST without her twin brother, Claire Devlin believes he is her guardian angel, guiding her from beyond the grave.
Claire’s gentle brother Lee was killed in a one-punch attack when he was knocked to the ground by a 16-year-old boy in Whitley Bay on September 12, 2014.
After experiencing the pain of losing him, Claire is dedicating her life to helping others.
Now three years after his death Claire says her brother is looking down on her and would have been proud as she joins Sunderland University with the aim of getting a degree in counselling.
“He would have been so proud of me,” said Claire, of Howdon, North Tyneside. “He is giving me the luck I need and I know he is looking down at me right now with a big smile on his face.
“I know it his him who is guiding me. He is pushing me to get this. I have studied at Tyne Met for two years getting level two and three in counselling and now I have joined the University of Sunderland on a foundation degree course in counselling.
“I can’t believe how it is going for me, I’ve done so well. I had to resit my maths to originally get on the course and I did that. It was Lee pushing me to do something worthwhile and help others.
“I got no help when I lost Lee and I know what my experience can bring. I’m a good listener and I know what it’s like to lose someone and go through something so terrible.”
Claire, who currently works in Subway, added: “Last year, when I did level three, I was nominated for student of the year. There were a few of us up for it but I won overall student.
“I feel it was Lee looking down on me. It was him who is giving me the guidance and the luck I need, I just want to do this to help others. I’m doing it for me and Lee.”
Mum-of-two Claire visited Lee’s grave at Holy Cross Cemetery on the anniversary of his death with their dad Barry and his partner Lilian, who travelled from their home in Scotland.
“Dad put a football wreath on Lee’s grave because he was such a fan and my flowers were dark blue because I always thought he suited that colour. Friends had planted flowers around the grave and it looked really smart. It was lovely.”
Vulnerable Lee had been to visit Claire before he was killed. He left her house at around 9.20pm and got on a Metro to go home. On leaving the station at Whitley Bay, he came across two teenagers on Station Road.
Lee stood and talked to them and the 15-year-olds found it awkward. They shouted for four other youths, including the convicted teenager.
The youngsters then ended up sitting on a garden wall and Lee was trying to join in with their conversations.
The court heard how the situation turned nasty and Lee realised he was not welcome and decided to leave. However the teenager then landed one single blow and Lee died.
Sentencing him to a two-year detention and training order for manslaughter, Mr Justice Leggatt said: “You will have to live the rest of your life with the knowledge you have killed another human being.”
The family tried to appeal but the Attorney General decided not to allow it. Claire joined forces with grieving mum Maxine Thompson in her fight to raise awareness of the dangers of single-punch killings.
In 2011, Maxine’s son Kristian died after he was felled in an unprovoked attack in September 2010.
Claire added: “We got the real life sentence.
“That lad who did that to Lee is out and living his life now. I only hope I never bump into him.”