Relatives of gun spree killer Derrick Bird would apologise to his victims’ families “if they had the strength”, a close friend said today as memorial services were held to remember the dead.
The Rev Jim Marshall, curate of St Michael’s Church in Lamplugh, said the man the family had known was “not the person they saw on Wednesday”, and that they have “dreadful sorrow within them and dreadful sadness within them”.
Mr Bird (52) killed 12 people and injured 11 before taking his own life in a horrific shooting spree across Cumbria.
Mr Marshall said: “If they had the strength to do it, they were the sort of people who would have gone round to each one of the (families of) people killed and wounded to apologise. That is the strength of their feelings.
“Having said that their brother, their father and son is a person who in all sorts of respects still has their respect because he’s not the person they saw and heard about on Wednesday.
Mr Marshall read out a short statement on behalf of Graeme and Jamie Bird, Derrick’s two sons.
It said: “We are utterly devastated about the death of our father Derrick Bird. To us, he was the nicest man you could ever meet. He was a loving dad and recently became a grandfather.
“We would like to say that we do not know why our dad committed these horrific crimes. We are both mortified by these sad events.”
Mr Marshall read out another statement on behalf of Brian Bird, which said: “My family and I are extremely saddened by the events on Wednesday. The loss of both my brothers is devastating. They were both very caring, family people.
“My family and I are saddened at the loss of life and woundings and can only offer our condolences to the families concerned.
“We appreciate what they are suffering at this time. We cannot offer any reason why Derrick took it upon himself to commit these crimes. We are in shock and dismay.” The statements were released as communities gathered for memorial services to remember those who died.
Parishioners in Haile this morning remembered James and Jennifer Jackson, who were keen supporters of their local church.
Police are trying to find out what caused Mr Bird’s murderous rampage.
They confirmed the self-employed cabbie was the subject of an Inland Revenue investigation and friends say he feared going to jail over a mystery £60,000 in his bank account.
The will of his father Joe revealed his twin brother David had received a £25,000 payout but he had been ignored.
PA