Mourners honour life of blinded policeman David Rathband

HUNDREDS of mourners gathered yesterday to honour the life of blinded PC David Rathband.Among the crowd at St Nicholas’ Cathedral, Newcastle, were policing minister Nick Herbert, actor Tim Healy and Northumbria Police Chief Constable Sue Sim.

The officer’s children Mia, 13, and Ashley, 19, sat at the front of the church. Six pallbearers from the police, fire and ambulance service carried his coffin.

His twin Darren, who organised the service as a celebration of his brother’s life, wept as he placed a hand on the coffin, which was draped in a Union Flag, covered with lilies and his police cap.

In a heart-breaking speech, he said: “I have lost half of me. You don’t get over it, you just get through it. Every day grief puts on a new face.

“My brother said to me. ‘You’re a good brother.’ I say to my brother, ‘You’re a great brother.’ It is time to take my brother home.”

PC Rathband was shot and blinded by gunman Raoul Moat while unarmed in his patrol car in July 2010. He was found hanging at his home in Blyth, Northumberland, on 29 February, having never recovered from the mental trauma of his injuries.

Calls were made to better protect 999 workers injured in the line of duty.

The government was urged to introduce a “Rathband’s Law” to ensure emergency services personnel who are hurt while helping others do not struggle for financial security.

Family friend Tony Horne, who helped Rathband set up a foundation to help others with similar injuries, said: “For me, it would be a beautiful irony and job done if legislation was passed so that there was no need for a Blue Lamp Foundation.”