Four young men killed in a crash in Huyton died of multiple injuries, an inquest has heard. Jack Diggle, 23, Ben Dooley, 23, Andrew Roberts, 24, and Craig Shackleton-Brady, 26, died when the black Cupra Formentor they were travelling in came off East Prescot Road, where it meets Liverpool Road, Huyton, and crashed into a lamppost in the early hours of July 24.
Inquest opened into deaths
Inquests were opened into the four men's deaths on Wednesday morning (August 12) at Bootle Town Hall. The coroners' court heard: "At approximately 1.54am on Friday, July 24 a single vehicle collision occurred on the East Prescot Road between Ashover Avenue and Dinas Lane resulting in the deaths of four of the five occupants."
Liam Moss, senior coroners' officer, told the court that Home Office post-mortems were carried out on July 26 and the cause of deaths were all listed as "multiple injuries". The court heard the four men were initially identified by their dental records. They were further identified through body markings and the clothing they were seen wearing on CCTV taken from earlier in the night.
Identification and tributes
Mr Diggle, of Alundale Road in West Derby, Mr Shackleton-Brady, of Old Riding in Dovecot, and Mr Dooley, of Greenvalley Road in Stockbridge Village, were all identified by their mums. Mr Roberts, of Kingsheath Avenue in Dovecot, was identified by his cousin.
Mr Moss confirmed that a suspect had been charged with four counts of aiding and abetting causing death by dangerous driving. The ECHO previously reported that James Diggle, 27 and of Alundale Road, was charged following his release from hospital. He did not enter a plea during his brief appearance at Liverpool Magistrates' Court on Saturday and was remanded in custody to appear next at Liverpool Crown Court on September 7.
Coroner suspends investigation
Anita Bhardwaj, senior coroner Sefton, Knowsley and St Helens, said today: "I will formally open the investigation and inquests touching on the deaths of the four gentlemen. I understand as mentioned that someone has been charged. I'm going to suspend the investigation and inquests so as to await the outcome of the criminal proceedings. I understand all families have been spoken to and are fully aware of the proceedings."
Ms Bhardwaj confirmed the four men's bodies had been released and cremation certificates had been issued for Jack Diggle, Mr Dooley and Mr Roberts, while a burial certificate had been issued for Mr Shackleton-Brady. No family members attended the 10-minute hearing.
An inquest is a publicly-held fact-finding inquiry, led by a coroner, with the purpose of answering questions about an unexplained or unnatural death. The coroner is tasked with answering four basic questions as part of their investigation - who died; where they died, when they died; and how they died.
Jack Diggle's mum said her son, a proud Everton FC supporter who had a passion for watchdog and playing darts, was blessed with a "wonderful" group of friends. She said the loss of Jack had "left a hole" in the lives and hearts of those around him that can "never be filled". His family added: "We will carry him with us every day and miss him for the rest of our lives."
Mr Dooley's mum remembered the sports psychology student as the "kindest person I knew with a heart of gold", while his sister Demi remembered him as "the one who always gave me advice and looked out for me, the most caring, kindest person in the world". She added: "My heart is broken."
Mr Roberts' mum called her son "my beautiful blue-eyed boy" and added "my life will never be the same with you not here". Meanwhile his dad said: "You were the world to me...and the best son anyone could ask for. I can't imagine life without you." His brothers, Carl and Thomas, remembered "Pip" as the "glue to our crazy family".
Mr Shackleton-Brady's sister, Kelsey, described her younger brother, who worked as a warehouse operator, as "one of the kindest and gentlest people you could ever meet", while the Dovecot man's long-term partner, Ellie Jones, who was also the mum of their young children, Phoebe and Archie, said: "He was my life, my rock. I don't know life without him."
Following the confirmation of James Diggle's charge, a Merseyside Police spokesperson said: "As criminal proceedings are now active, we would ask that the public refrain from commenting on, or speculating about, the circumstances of this case online, as this could unintentionally prejudice the judicial process. Our thoughts remain with the families and loved ones of the four men who tragically lost their lives and we ask that their privacy is respected at this extremely difficult time."
