
Family pays tributes to 'best dad' after M53 death
The family of a father-of-two killed in a motorway crash have described him as a "hardworking, caring man". Kevin Rylance, 49, died when a white Peugeot van and red Volkswagen car collided near the Eastham exit of the M53 in Wirral on Thursday 8 May at around 8:15 BST. The driver of the car stopped at the scene and Merseyside Police said it was investigating the cause of the crash. His family said "loving husband" Mr Rylance was the "best dad two kids could've ever wished for".
"A hardworking, caring man and everyone who has ever met him will miss him dearly," they said."We will miss you forever."Merseyside Police said Mr Rylance was treated at the scene and died in hospital. Anyone who witnessed the crash or who has relevant information was urged to get in touch with police.
Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram, and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Telegraph
25 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Politicians don't want to admit the truth about the Northern Ireland riots
The scenes of violence that have gripped Northern Ireland this week have evoked unwelcome memories of the province's turbulent recent history. But the working-class communities there have found a very different 'grievance' from the one that wreaked devastation on their towns and cities during the Troubles. In the past, the 'enemy' was defined by Northern Ireland's complex divisions over civil rights, religion and the prospect of a united Ireland. In the last few nights, the target has been the local immigrant population. Police have come under attack from violent mobs throwing firebombs, bottles and rocks after demonstrations against Roma residents escalated. Cultural tensions were already high, with locals voicing their objections to the influx of Roma into their communities, even before it was reported that a teenage girl from Ballymena had allegedly suffered a sexual assault at the hands of two teenage Roma boys. The list of complaints is a familiar one: they claim few of the new arrivals speak English and require the support of translators in order to be able to access local services. There are concerns that the Roma people are more likely to be on benefits compared to other ethnic groups. Local women have complained about harassment from groups of Roma men (and women) as they walk to and from their homes. And to complicate matters, no one seems quite sure whether the new arrivals have crossed the border from the Republic of Ireland or are in the UK legally, having arrived in the UK before EU Freedom of Movement was scrapped on December 31, 2020. Similar tensions over the Roma emerged in areas of Britain during the UK's EU membership, when local, usually poorer, areas of some large cities attracted large numbers of those originating in parts of eastern Europe where the Roma have historically suffered persecution and discrimination. In Glasgow, the Govanhill area in the city's south side gained a reputation as the centre of a new Roma community without much civil upset. But unlike Glasgow, Northern Ireland has a recent history of civil unrest, not to mention a folk memory of burning resentment against the establishment, that has proved all too easily exploited by racist elements. Roma families, many with young children, have been forced to flee the mobs who have targeted, and on some occasions, destroyed their homes. Uncomplimentary comparisons have already been made with last year's summer riots that followed the murder of three young girls at a local dance class in Southport. It is tempting now, as it was then, to conclude that this is nothing more than attempts by the 'far-Right' to foment civil disturbance for their own ends. It is more complicated than that. Do local communities have any right to object to the imposition of alien, or at least unfamiliar, cultures upon them? Is it always irrational and xenophobic to resent someone because of their apparent refusal to learn the language of the country in which they have chosen to live? Is it similarly unreasonable to object to the amount of local authority resources devoted towards easing that problem? And while it is both dangerous and unjust to make blanket assumptions about any nationality's attitudes to women and sex, it is undeniable that certain cultures have, by western standards, an outdated view of women's roles in society. Until relatively recently, it was decreed by our political masters that we should never cast aspersions on such attitudes and cultures, but such restrictions are no longer taken seriously, not after the grooming gangs scandal, or Kemi Badenoch's warning that not all cultures are equally valid. An entire community cannot and should not be held accountable for the alleged sexual assault on a teenage girl. But to dismiss local anger as racism, to order people to accept whatever changes are imposed on their communities by their political betters without demur, is simply storing up greater trouble for the future.


BreakingNews.ie
26 minutes ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Jockey Michael O'Sullivan (24) died of a severe traumatic brain injury, inquest hears
Cheltenham festival-winning jockey Michael O'Sullivan died of a severe traumatic brain injury, complicated by brain swelling with cerebral infarction, due to a horse riding accident, his inquest has heard. Cork Coroner's Court heard brief evidence on Thursday morning from Assistant State Pathologist, Dr Margaret Bolster, as to the cause of the death of the 24-year-old on February 16th last. Advertisement Dr Bolster carried out a postmortem on Mr O'Sullivan at Cork City Mortuary a day after his death. Mr O'Sullivan of Currabower, Lombardstown, Co Cork, died at Cork University Hospital after what his family previously described as a 'trojan battle' to recover from his injuries. Michael was airlifted to hospital on February 6th last following a serious last fence fall in Thurles, Co Tipperary. He was just days short of his 25th birthday when he passed away 10 days later. Sgt Aisling Murphy requested an adjournment of the inquest in to the death of the champion jockey to facilitate 'preparatory work.' Advertisement Cork City Coroner Philip Comyn said the inquest was being opened for the purpose of hearing medical evidence on the cause of death so that a death certificate could be issued to the family of the deceased. Inspector Justin Walsh from the Health and Safety Authority was present at the hearing. He confirmed that their investigation in to the death is yet to be completed. Solicitor Denis Linehan, who represents the O'Sullivan family, was also in attendance at the inquest. He will be on the record for the family going forward. A full hearing of the case will take place at a later date. Michael is survived by his parents William and Bernie, his brother Alan, his partner Charlotte, his grandmother Mary, uncles and aunts, his weigh room colleagues and the wider racing community and extended family and friends. Advertisement Michael shot to public attention two years ago when he won the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham aboard Marine Nationale before going on to win the Fred Winter with Jazzy Matty. Huge crowds attended his funeral at St John the Baptist Church in Glantane, Co Cork, on February 19th. His father William told mourners. that Michael would want his loved ones to find joy in life in spite of his passing. Ireland Construction of Leinster House bike shed was halte... Read More He said that Michael had his heart set on beimg a jockey from an early age. He noted that even though Michael had managed to receive a honours degree in Agricultural Science they had it on 'good authority' that he read the Racing Post during lectures in UCD. Advertisement Meanwhile, Michael's brother Alan and his cousins David O'Sullivan and Sonny McCartan recently took part in the Cork City Marathon to raise funds for Brú Columbanus, a charity that offers free accommodation to families of seriously ill patients in Cork hospitals. They decided to raise funds for the site in Wilton in Cork as it was a 'safe haven' for the O'Sullivan family when Michael was in intensive care. Over €94,000 has been raised for the charity arising out of the fundraising appeal. Donations can still be made online.


Daily Mail
26 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Self-styled Lord allegedly pelted former lover's home with eggs, paint and bricks after she jilted him, court hears
A self-styled 'lord' waged a campaign of intimidation against a former partner after she ended the relationship, a court has heard. Peter Sorrell, 65, allegedly threw items including rocks and eggs at the woman's home when their four-year affair ended. He is also said to have daubed words such as 'slapper', and 'sex for sale' on her house during late night raids. Jurors were told 'bizarre' letters and messages were sent to the woman, under the names of other people including the defendant's ex-wife, describing how she was causing 'suffering' to a 'good man'. Others threatened her, the prosecution says, with comments including 'bitch is going to burn'. Details of the alleged stalking have been heard at Norwich Crown Court in Norfolk, where the defendant has been turning up clutching a copy of the Magna Carta and insisted on being referred to as Lord Peter Sorrelll (sic). Father-of-three Sorrell, a retired lorry driver who lives in a modest two-bedroom newbuild house in Bradwell, and the woman went out between 2014 and 2018, the prosecution say. But when she told him the relationship was over he couldn't 'accept' the break-up and 'begged her to take him back'. When this failed, he started on the course of action that led to his alleged victim to 'fear violence would be used against her'. Sorrell denies putting a person in fear of violence by stalking between December 22, 2019 and November 19, 2020. He has also pleaded not guilty to four breaches of a non-molestation order made by the Family Court in November 2019. The breaches occurred between March and November 2020, jurors heard. Prosecutor John Fairhead said that other items thrown at the victim's house in Great Yarmouth included bricks and paint. Paint was also used to write the graffiti on the front and back of her home including 'whore' and 'RIP, RIP'. Mr Fairhead added the defendant 'sent her a number of letters', some handwritten and others on Facebook, claiming to be from his ex-wife, friends and well-wishers. These were 'lengthy, rambling and, the Crown would say, frankly bizarre' as they outlined how he was a 'good man'. 'But apart from this frankly blatant emotional blackmail, the letters became increasingly abusive and menacing,' the prosecutor said. They included a Valentine's card with the message: 'Happy Valentine's Day you black widow… when I play games, I play to the end.' Messages from the Facebook accounts of several women were also actually composed by the defendant, the court heard. These had comments such as 'you stupid bitch', 'you killed him, you're responsible' and 'bitch is going to burn'. One warned that Sorrell would 'not see this year out if he doesn't stop hurting himself'. The Crown claims the defendant was also seen 'wearing a wig to disguise himself' during late night visits to his victim's home. Giving evidence from behind a screen, the woman said the messages had become 'more and more threatening and aggressive'. 'I began to worry for my life. It made me feel scared to be in my own home,' she told the jury. 'My home was my safe place. It was my daughter's safe place. But it made me realise it was no longer a place I could feel safe.' She also claimed Sorrell had been sending gifts and 'turning up at my neighbour's door asking to send me gifts' because he 'refused to accept' they were no longer together. Referring to the letters, she said she recognised the handwriting and said of the comments they contained: 'It's a pattern he had been following for about a year-and-a-half. 'He's been trying to portray himself as a good guy and a victim in this.' Finding the words 'RIP, RIP' scrawled on her house had 'made me fear eventually he would kill me'. She added: 'It came to the point [where] I didn't want to leave the house because I didn't know what was going to happen.' Sorrell, who is representing himself in court, tried to 'paint himself as the victim' when he was arrested and allegedly blamed his former wife for the graffiti, it is said. He was initially released without charge but was later arrested for breaching the non-molestation order by being within 50m of his victim's home, the court heard. He had gone to a launderette that was 36m from the house, claiming it was the only one open in the area at the time. Mr Fairhead said the defendant had 'pursued a course of conduct' that caused his victim to 'fear violence would be used against her'. He added: 'The Crown say all the evidence points to one person – the defendant, 'Lord Peter Sorrell'.' The Magna Carta, signed by King John in 1215, was a landmark document in English democracy that established that no one is above the law. The trial continues.