Posted online: Aug 18th, 2010

A 46-year-old County Derry man who was killed in a motorcycling accident at the weekend has been described as a “decent” person.
Gary Grieves from Claudy died after the Yamaha bike he was riding was involved in a collision with a Volkswagon Golf on the Mayogall Road outside Portglenone just after 8pm on Saturday evening.
It is understood Mr Grieves, a police officer who was stationed in Portglenone, was on his way home from work when the crash happened at the crossroads junction with the Mullaghboy Road.
The male driver of the car and a female passenger were taken to hospital with serious but not life threatening injuries.
On Sunday afternoon distraught colleagues of Mr Grieves attended the scene of the accident to lay flowers.
Last night Ulster Unionist councillor Mary Hamilton said the father-of-three’s death had left his family “devastated”.
“I was up with the family on Sunday and they are just devastated,” said councillor Hamilton.
“It is such a tragic accident.
“The family have been in Claudy for years and are well known in the area.”
Mrs Hamilton said Gary had been in the Royal Navy for some time before joining the police service.
It is understood he had been based at Strabane Police Station for a period of time before being moved to Portglenone recently.
“Gary was such a friendly, real decent chap who couldn’t do enough for anybody,” said councillor Hamilton.
“He was building a new house and was ready to go into it in six weeks time.
“I would like to extend sincere sympathy to the Grieves family from Ernie and myself,” councillor Hamilton added.
Gary will be laid to rest on Wednesday following a funeral service in Cumber Upper Church of Ireland in Claudy.