This incident wasn't posted on here when it happened, despite extensive press coverage. There was a thread about a later incident about some other drunken passenger being 'abandoned', though, which was related back to this particular death
'My greatest fear is being driven by the same taxi driver who abandoned my son' - mum still in dark 18 months after tragic deathhttps://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/news ... on-2970945Liam Toner, 19, was found dead in a ditch by his grandmother 18 months ago and his family still have no answers to what happened
Image: Grimsby TelegraphThe mother of a tragic teenager found dead in a ditch after a night out in Cleethorpes is still crying out for answers as to what happened to her son.
It is 18 months since Liam Toner was found at Holton-le-Clay by his grandmother who had joined the family search for him over 24 hours after he went missing from a works' Christmas night out in Cleethorpes.
But grieving mum Emma Hardy, 38, said she had not been given any facts about why her son was abandoned in the village street by a taxi driver, 20 miles from his home in Ulceby on December 16, 2017. Police said there were no suspicious circumstances in the tragic death.
An investigation is underway by the Independent Office for Police Conduct into how police officers carried out their search after Liam, 19, was reported missing by his mum.
The roofer, would have been 21 next month.
Image: Grimsby Telegraph"It has been 18 months and I am still looking for answers. I have been waiting long enough. There has been no inquest and I have not been told what is happening. I know as much as you - and I am his mother," she told Grimsby Live.
She added: "I think it is disgusting I have been left in the dark. All the investigating officers and everyone else goes home to their families. But I have no Liam. No one seems to care how I am suffering."
Emma said: "It has all changed since Liam died. Every time there is a report of someone missing the police are right on it and there are appeals on Facebook and all over. It was hours before anyone took me seriously. How does it make me feel every time there is a police appeal for a missing person, even when it is after just two hours?"
Emma went to Cleethorpes to pick up Liam and his mate as had been pre-arranged. But when Emma spoke to his friend he said Liam had gone off on his own and he had been trying to find him.
That began a widespread search throughout North East Lincolnshire, including the streets of Cleethorpes and Scartho.
Following information received by Liam's family they headed to Holton-le-Clay. They searched in different groups to cover the whole area and at around midnight Diane found Liam in the roadside ditch.
Emma's hurt has been compounded by the death of her mother Diane Hardy in January.
"She found Liam that night and she was never right since. She was battling with cancer before that night but after that she gave up," said Emma.
She has not been told the identity of the driver or the firm for which he worked and one of her greatest fears is that one day or on a night out she may end up in a taxi driven by the same man who picked up her son on Grimsby Road, Cleethorpes and then left him on Louth Road, Holton-le-Clay a few minutes later.
"It could be the same taxi driver and I would be none the wiser," said Emma.
Image: Grimsby TelegraphThe Independent Office for Police Conduct is looking into the role of officers from both Humberside Police and Lincolnshire Police in the hours after Liam went missing.
Emma said: "We have all be young once and done stupid things. but in all my life I have never had any involvement with police, until the night Liam went missing."
The mother, who continues to look after Liam's brother Kye Toner, 18, and her daughter Brooke-Ella Heseltine, six, urged people going out for a night to make sure they keep in contact with friends or relatives and let them know if they get into a taxi. She said people going out on a night should keep enough cash with them to pay for a taxi or arrange a lift from a friend or relative.
Days after the shocking discovery in the ditch, North East Lincolnshire Council, the authority which licences taxi drivers reminded all drivers they have a duty of care towards customers. They advised what to do with intoxicated passengers and ensure they go to a safe place.
Liam had become separated from workmates and had lost his mobile phone. Two young Good Samaritans, Laila Kiss and sister Sheldon, were among the last people to see Liam alive after helping him get a taxi on Grimsby Road, Cleethorpes.
An inquest opening, nearly a year ago, revealed he died from obstruction of his upper airways. A file will be prepared for the Lincoln coroner once the results of the police investigation are known.
Regional director of The Independent Office for Police Conduct, Miranda Biddle said: "We sincerely apologise to Liam’s family for the length of time this investigation has taken. They deserve answers to the many questions they have about his death, and we will meet with them at the earliest opportunity to share our findings. We have also kept the coroner’s office updated and will continue to do so.
"Our investigation into the actions of Humberside Police and Lincolnshire Police following reports of concern for the welfare Mr Liam Toner began in January 2018. We shared our report with both forces in April this year and after doing so further lines of enquiry were identified that are being finalised so we can complete our investigation."
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