Grieving mother’s tribute to son killed in Darwen crash

7:30pm Thursday 26th July 2012 in News Photograph of the Author By Dan Clough, Reporter

A GRIEVING mother has paid tribute to her son who was killed in a horror crash that saw the driver jailed for more than five years.

Liverpudlian Jason Kenealy, 32, who lived in Darwen, died from multiple injuries shortly after the red Vauxhall Corsa he was travelling in crashed in Chorley Old Road, Bolton.

Driver Carl Yates, 25, of Baron Street, Darwen, was almost three times the drink-drive limit when he hit an oncoming Corolla Verso carrying a family of five on Saturday, June 25, last year.

He was sentenced at Bolton Crown Court on Monday to five years and four months in prison.

And Kathleen Kenealy, 69, of Liverpool, said she and her family would never get over the tragedy of losing Jason.

She said: “I can’t even let go of his ashes. I can’t let him go. None of us can. We are devastated.

“He made my heart sing and now my heart has stopped singing. The house seems so empty.

“Even when he moved away we got a text from him every night. I still text him every night now.

“He was a sunbeam. There was just something different about him.

“I don’t think we can ever get over this.”

Mrs Kenealy, who has a husband, Tommy, 71, and children Julie, Diane, Yvonne and Frankie, said Jason wanted to help everyone.

She said: “He was the sort of person who would walk into the KFC in Liverpool, buy a load of food and then go round giving it to homeless people.

“He just wanted to help people. He always made a point of putting his arm around people.”

Comments (4)

9:23pm Thu 26 Jul 12

katypri says...

yes but he will serve half the judge says then half o license not a long time for the amount of people injured and a life lost, yes the guys knew he had been drinking and had no seat belts on but the people in the other car wasnt given a choice
yes but he will serve half the judge says then half o license not a long time for the amount of people injured and a life lost, yes the guys knew he had been drinking and had no seat belts on but the people in the other car wasnt given a choice katypri

10:40pm Thu 26 Jul 12

Damo0912 says...

I had the good fortune of working with Jason, valeting cars at the Ford garage in Blackburn. He was such a friendly, happy person, who always spoke very highly of his girlfriend, family and friends. I was devastated when I found out that he had passed away in such a terrible, tragic accident. I hope the person who has caused so much grief and upset to Jason's family suffers during his sentence and for the rest of his life. Living with the guilt of cutting such a decent lads life so short. RIP Jason. I'm sure your memory will live on with everyone that knew you forever.
I had the good fortune of working with Jason, valeting cars at the Ford garage in Blackburn. He was such a friendly, happy person, who always spoke very highly of his girlfriend, family and friends. I was devastated when I found out that he had passed away in such a terrible, tragic accident. I hope the person who has caused so much grief and upset to Jason's family suffers during his sentence and for the rest of his life. Living with the guilt of cutting such a decent lads life so short. RIP Jason. I'm sure your memory will live on with everyone that knew you forever. Damo0912

12:21pm Fri 27 Jul 12

blackburn spy says...

Jason is my Uncle, he is also the Godfather of my eldest son Rylee who is 2 and a half. Rylee is without a Godfather now but I guarantee you he will always know about Jay. My tribute to Jay is calling my new born son after him with a double barrelled first name. Jay was to play a big part at my wedding which had to be re arranged due to him being taken from us, he was to be my usher, a job which only someone as outgoing as him could perform. I know he was still at my wedding. I miss you Jay and love you forever. You'll Never Walk Alone xxx Andrew, Sammi, Rylee and Jenson-Jay
Jason is my Uncle, he is also the Godfather of my eldest son Rylee who is 2 and a half. Rylee is without a Godfather now but I guarantee you he will always know about Jay. My tribute to Jay is calling my new born son after him with a double barrelled first name. Jay was to play a big part at my wedding which had to be re arranged due to him being taken from us, he was to be my usher, a job which only someone as outgoing as him could perform. I know he was still at my wedding. I miss you Jay and love you forever. You'll Never Walk Alone xxx Andrew, Sammi, Rylee and Jenson-Jay blackburn spy

1:56am Sat 28 Jul 12

SHUGSTER says...

they were best mates , driver over the limit. should be be jailed without a doubt . if they were all out on a night out , and we have all done it , we are all under the influence , ur mates got the car , but we still get in ,and we do . or we all know someone that drink drives,amounts to the same thing . we never ever want anything like this to happen , we all got crosses to bear . THE NEXT TIME U SEE UR NEIGHBOUR OR YOUR DAD OR UR BROTHER GET IN THE CAR P*SSED , RING THE POLICE, otherwise keep ur opinions to urself. someone HAS died . we have all done something we regret . this is just my opinion
they were best mates , driver over the limit. should be be jailed without a doubt . if they were all out on a night out , and we have all done it , we are all under the influence , ur mates got the car , but we still get in ,and we do . or we all know someone that drink drives,amounts to the same thing . we never ever want anything like this to happen , we all got crosses to bear . THE NEXT TIME U SEE UR NEIGHBOUR OR YOUR DAD OR UR BROTHER GET IN THE CAR P*SSED , RING THE POLICE, otherwise keep ur opinions to urself. someone HAS died . we have all done something we regret . this is just my opinion SHUGSTER

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