PARENTS who lost their 21-year-old son in a motorbike accident feel that the PSNI could do more to educate young riders on the dangers of the pastime. 

William Weir, from Maguiresbridge, tragically passed away in December 2020 in a collision with a car near Fivemiletown. 

William's passing has left a void that can never be filled for his parents, Bill and Brenda, and his four siblings, and following their own experiences, the family is keen to promote safety on the roads for both riders and motorists. 

"You have to respect the road, for everyone who is on it," Mrs. Weir said. "That person on the bike could be someone's child, someone's sibling, someone's parent. 

"I definitely feel that the PSNI could be doing more to promote safety on motorcycles. There's an awful lot of young people with a deep interest in bikes, but there aren't the resources there to show them the proper way. 

"William was lucky in that he had his dad to learn from. But some don't have have that. The police could put a bigger emphasis on workshops to help promote safety."

Mr. Weir said his late son was "responsible, safe and capable" when on his bike - something that, as a rider himself, he taught him from a young age. 

However, he said that dangers also exist in the form of other road users, and he has urged motorists to be mindful of bikers. 

"He had a passion for bikes, and he got that passion from me," Mr. Weir said. "He was always safe, he was always capable. But in spite of that, the worst can still happen."

Mr Weir says the traumatic memory of that day - December 16, 2020 - is still fresh in his memory. It as a pain "that never goes away". 

"The time was around 6.20pm, and the police called at the house," he said. "They say when you see a police officer with no hat on, something is seriously wrong. 

"We cracked up there and then when they told us. Seeing your child die before you in not the natural order of things. 

"It's hard to cope. We just take it day by day, and no matter what you are doing, it's always there, in the back of your mind."

Following William's tragic passing, Mr. Weir says he has gained solace from the support of the local biking community; and in particular the huge crowds who attended the funeral. 

"If it wasn't for the biking community, we would be lost," he said. "The biking community have really came together to help us through this.

"He had friends from all corners of Northern Ireland. They came from everywhere on the day of his funeral. It was eye-opening."

And Mrs. Weir feels that members of the biking community can emphasise with each other, as many have lost loved ones on the roads over the years. 

Many attend the yearly bikers' memorial - held in Aghadrumsee, Fermanagh and more recently in Clones, Monaghan - which recently celebrated its 20th anniversary. 

"It (the biking community) has absolutely helped us cope with what happened," she said. "You can talk to so many people about what has happened, but it is different talking to people who have been through same situation. 

"You know they are going through the same thing, so they have that understanding."