Priest shakes holy water from motorbike at funeral for e-bike teen

Moment priest shakes holy water from the back of a motorbike driven by masked youth at funeral for teenager killed in e-bike collision

• Video footage shows Father Frankie Mulgrew riding in the funeral cortege  

This is the moment a priest sprinkled holy water from the back of a motorbike during the funeral for a teenager killed in an e-bike crash. 

Video footage shows Father Frankie Mulgrew, son of comedian Jimmy Cricket, riding pillion on the dirt bike – which is driven by a masked youth out of a cemetery in Salford. 

The unusual scene took place at the funeral of 15-year-old Saul Cookson, who died after his e-bike crashed into an ambulance in June. He was being followed by police shortly before.

Father Mulgrew had held a funeral service for Saul where he urged members of the congregation to do one act of kindness in his memory. The funeral cortege leaving St Mary’s cemetery in Wardley included several other youths on bikes. 

His behaviour divided local people – particularly in light of the significant public disorder that followed Tuesday’s funeral. 

Video footage shows Father Frankie Mulgrew, son of comedian Jimmy Cricket, riding pillion on the dirt bike – which is driven by a masked youth out of a cemetery in Salford

The unusual scene took place at the funeral of 15-year-old Saul Cookson, who died after his e-bike crashed into an ambulance in June . He was being followed by police shortly before

One parishioner commenting on the clip said: ‘It is the height of naivety. He’d get away with blessing the mourners with holy water, but to do it as he’s done on the back of a bike that possibly had been or went on to cause trouble beggars belief. It was bloody stupid and sacrilegious.’

The Bishop of Salford, Bishop John Arnold, has now spoken to Father Mulgrew, the Manchester Evening News reports. 

Throughout the day, primarily in the Pendleton area, there were reports of ‘around 20 to 30 people’ on unauthorised motorbikes and groups of males wearing balaclavas.

Youths on bikes were seen launching fireworks at a police station and a police fan. 

Images also showed a car that had gone up in flames after being set alight in Clarendon Park at around 6:15pm, with further reports of a large group of males on bikes in a children’s play area at around 8pm. A number of other cars were also left scorched. 

A witness said: ‘It’s been happening most of the day. Around 30ish youths all in black, riding bikes and cars, joyriding around the park and setting fire to stuff and shooting fireworks.’ 

Saul, 15, was killed when his electric bike crashed into an ambulance in Salford. This photo was released by his family 

Exclusive footage obtained by MailOnline shows Saul riding along Fitzwarren Street on the e-bike at 14.01pm

A police squad car is then seen following behind him four seconds later – travelling at what appears to be medium speed

Saul Cookson was riding an e-bike when he hit an ambulance as it was returning to base on June 8. The incident was referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) for investigation.  

Exclusive CCTV footage obtained by MailOnline showed a cyclist riding down Fitzwarren Street at 14.01pm. A police BMW X5 squad car was then seen following behind four seconds later at what appears to be medium speed.

The police car went on to follow Saul down Lower Seedley Road before it was blocked off by bollards. Greater Manchester Police said the teenager crashed into an ambulance on Langworthy Road ‘a short time later’.

The incident came a month after friends Harvey Evans, 15, and Kyrees Sullivan, 16, were killed in an e-bike collision after being followed by a police van in Cardiff, triggering a riot. 

A Diocese of Salford Spokesperson said: ‘On Tuesday 11th July following a funeral, one of our clergy blessed funeral goers who had been in attendance. The blessing took place on the back of an off-road bike. At the time he viewed this interaction as a gesture of outreach.

Traffic officers had been following Saul but were prevented from continuing the trail by bollards. Pictured is the ambulance involved in the crash 

Messages at the scene say ‘rest in peace my bro’, ‘fly high’, ‘shining bright up there’ and ‘forever 15’

‘The way this blessing took place is not what we would expect from a member of our clergy and conversations have already taken place regarding the incident. We do not condone under any circumstances the anti-social behaviour that took place in the local community that day.

‘We will continue to work in this community as we do across Greater Manchester with all the local agencies to support community cohesion.’

An IOPC spokesman said: ‘Our thoughts remain with Saul’s family and loved ones, as well as all those affected by his death.

‘Our independent investigation into the circumstances of the collision on Langworthy Road on 8 June is progressing well. 

The teenager died a short time after being rushed to hospital following the crash

‘We are looking at the nature of the interaction between police and Saul prior to the collision, as well as the actions and decision-making of the officers involved.

‘Investigators have obtained, and are in the process of reviewing, a significant amount of evidence, including video footage, relating to the events of that day.

‘Anyone with information that may assist the investigation, particularly those who saw Saul or the police vehicle shortly before the collision, are asked to contact the IOPC by emailing [email protected] or calling 0300 303 5568.’

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