Dale Cregan trial: The PCs who ‘died doing job they loved’

PC FIONA Bone was born in Norwich but moved with her family to Moray when she was a child.

She attended Hopeman Primary School in Elgin and was later a pupil at Lossiemouth High School. Her mother, June, was born in nearby Forres.

Miss Bone spent ten years living in Scotland with her parents and sister, Vicky.

Her family moved back to England before she finished school and Miss Bone later became a student at the University of Central Lancashire in Preston to read Media and Film Studies. She graduated in 2002.

The police constable had served with Greater Manchester Police for five years. She started work with the force as a special constable. She lived in the Sale area of Manchester with her partner, Clare, and her five-year-old daughter, Jessie.

The couple had been planning a civil ceremony when the 32-year-old was killed.

Her family said she “enjoyed life to the full”. They said: “She was going to try her wedding dress soon. She was very excited and totally in love with her partner and looking forward to sharing her life with her partner.”

PC NICOLA Hughes was aged just 23 when she was killed by Cregan. She lived in Diggle, Oldham, with her mother, Susan. Miss Hughes went to school in Oldham before training to join the police.

She joined Greater Manchester Police in 2009 and serving all three years in the force with the same division in the city centre.

Her mother said she died “doing the job she loved”. She added: “We cannot express how we feel… Except to say we have always been exceedingly proud of Nicola and always will be.

“Nicola always wanted to make a difference and, in doing so, she made such a big difference to everyone she knew. She cared about everyone and especially her colleagues.”

She was described by colleagues as “very bubbly, loved life and socialising”. They added: “She was a chatterbox and was always smiling, even after a night shift when everyone

else was a bit grumpy.”

After she was killed, Chief Constable of the Greater Manchester force, Sir Peter Fahy, said: “Nicola showed that policing is not about muscle, but is about reason, restraint and intelligence.”