Family pays tribute to life support withdrawal case Pc at funeral
The family and friends of a police officer whose life support was withdrawn following a legal bid by his wife have paid tribute to him at his funeral.
Gulf War veteran Pc Paul Briggs was left severely brain damaged after he was hit by a dangerous driver while on his motorbike in July 2015.
In a case at the Court of Protection, his wife Lindsey called for life supporting treatment to be withdrawn and judge Mr Justice Charles ruled in her favour.
The Merseyside Police officer died in January after being transferred to palliative care.
His funeral service was held at the Landican Cemetery and Crematorium in Wirral, Merseyside, on Thursday at 10.30am.
A funeral procession was led by mounted officers and officers on motorbikes.
A guard of honour was formed as the cortege arrived at the crematorium and as the family entered the chapel where the service was held.
A floral tribute saying "Daddy" was in the hearse and a police officer's hat was laid on top of the coffin.
Some mourners stood outside for the ceremony as the chapel was full.
The ceremony included tributes from his brothers and a poem read on behalf of his daughter Ella, five.
The poem by Tram-Tiara T Von Reichenbach was listed in the order of service as "Ella's Tribute to Daddy - My Spirit" and read on her behalf by Tony Garvey.
His brother Jeff also read a poem, while his other brother, Greg, gave a eulogy titled Paul, The Man, Husband, Dad, Son, Brother and Friend.
The Bon Jovi song It's My Life was played as recessional music.
A message on the order of service read: "The family would like to thank you most sincerely for your attendance here today and for all your kind messages of sympathy received at this difficult time."
The family asked for donations in Pc Briggs' memory to be given to Wirral Hospice St Johns or Care of Police Survivors (COPS).
During the court case, Mrs Briggs said it seemed "cruel" to keep her husband alive.
Staff at the Walton Centre in Liverpool, where he was treated, said he had shown some signs of improvement, but neurology specialist Dr Krystyna Walton told the court hearing that even if he did emerge from the minimally conscious state he was in he would be a "completely different Mr Briggs to the Mr Briggs who set off to work the morning of the accident".
Chelsea Rowe, 26, was given a 12-month prison term in July last year after admitting causing serious injury to Pc Briggs by dangerous driving.
Liverpool Crown Court heard Miss Rowe was driving a Nissan Micra that was in a head-on collision with Pc Briggs' motorcycle on the Birkenhead flyover.
