Star and campaigning mum an item
FORMER Hollyoaks actor Joe Mcgann said campaigning mum Frances Molloy was “the greatest human being” as he opened up on their relationship.
Frances successfully campaigned to ban old tyres from lorries, buses and coaches after the death of her son Michael, 18, from Woolton, who was killed on his way home from the Bestival music festival in 2012.
Also killed was Kerry Ogden, 23, from Maghull, and coach driver Colin Daulby, 63, from Warrington.
Joe, 63, has been sharing a series of sweet snaps of himself looking smitten with Frances over the course of the past year.
In January 2021, Joe paid tribute to his new partner’s campaigning and dubbed her “the greatest human being” he knows.
“This woman changes Law,” the former soap star began a social media caption of himself with Frances.
“I couldn’t be prouder of Frances. Even after the most devastating of losses, and opposed with tortuous bureaucracies, she spoke truth to power.”
He added: “Always dignified, steely elegant, as fearless as she is tireless in pursuit of truth and fairness.
“What a mother, what a woman.”
He added: “My soulmate, the greatest human being I know.”
In additional pictures, balloons featuring Frances’ Tyred campaign’s logo can be seen by a bench in honour of the activist’s late son.
At the time of Joe’s sweet post, it had been announced that Frances’ tireless efforts had finally paid off – with tyres aged ten years and older banned from lorries, buses and coaches on roads in England, Scotland and Wales.
The mum had been fearlessly campaigning to change the previous law ever since Michael’s death.
Her son, Ms Ogden and Mr Daulby all died in the crash on the A3 in Surrey which occurred after the coach’s 19-year-old tyre blew out.
Speaking in 2020, Joe confirmed he had begun “an entirely unexpected love affair” with Frances.
Chatting to Silver Magazine, the actor discussed his family set-up and said: “Well there’s Mum and me, and Minnie the dachshund, and there’s also the amazing Frances...
“You see, before the plague descended, I had met and fallen for Frances, and we were in the very early days of a new – and in both our cases – entirely unexpected love affair.
“Frances has one of her sons living at her house, and after discussion we decided that, if we were to see each other at all, and with other considerations, it would be best if she – and her son – isolated with me. What could possibly go wrong?
“In truth, what some friends were calling a baptism of fire has been – pretty much – one long and enjoyable episode of Bake Off/Masterchef, with honours going mostly to Frances.”
Frances shared Joe’s article on Twitter, and wellwishers including former Brookside star Michael Starke and ITV Granada presenter Lucy Meacock responded with their best wishes. lawchanging