…By Alan Peterson for TDPel Media.
Thousands Expected at Joint Funeral Procession for Boys Killed in Bike Crash
This week, the town of Ely is preparing for a solemn event as nearly 400 motorbikes will form a procession to commemorate the joint funeral of Kyrees Sullivan and Harvey Evans, who tragically lost their lives in a bike crash back in May.
The deaths of the 16-year-old and 15-year-old boys sparked riots in a Cardiff suburb.
The local council will coordinate road closures around the Church of the Resurrection for the funeral service, which will take place at 1pm on Thursday (July 6).
In a statement from the Diocese of Llandaff, it was revealed that Kyrees and Harvey, who had been close friends since nursery, will be laid to rest together in the same grave.
As a tribute to the best friends, their friendship group has organized an impressive procession featuring two limousines, four hearses, eight Rolls Royce cars, and an estimated 200 to 400 motorbikes.
Due to the expected magnitude of people and traffic, local schools will be closing in the afternoon on the day of the funeral.
The Reverend Canon Jan Gould, minister at the church, expressed the importance of this service for the families and the entire community, providing a sense of closure and the opportunity to begin the healing process.
She hopes that the community can now start rebuilding, finding solace in the service.
Following the boys’ tragic deaths and the subsequent riots, Canon Gould kept the church open all day, offering a welcoming space for people to light candles and remember Kyrees and Harvey.
During the funeral service, a moment of silence will be observed, and the canon will deliver a sermon on the Gospel passage depicting Jesus calming the storm.
Canon Gould explained that she will address the overwhelming nature of grief and the various emotions that can arise, while encouraging those in attendance to seek the peace that Jesus brought when he stilled the storm, offering solace during life’s turbulent times.
Friends of the boys alleged that they were being chased by the police prior to the fatal crash.
However, South Wales Police has clarified that the collision had already occurred when officers arrived and that rumors of a police chase are false.
Two police officers have received gross misconduct notices in relation to the incident, and an investigation is underway into the conduct of the driver and passenger of a police van that was seen on CCTV footage following the boys’ electric bike before the crash.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) launched an investigation after receiving a referral from South Wales Police, prompted by CCTV footage showing a marked police van trailing behind the boys’ electric bike in a nearby street shortly before the collision on May 22.
In an update provided on Tuesday, June 13, the IOPC announced that gross misconduct notices had been served to two officers.
These notices indicate that an investigation into their conduct is underway but do not necessarily guarantee disciplinary proceedings.
Thus far, 27 individuals have been arrested in connection with the riots that ensued after the boys’ deaths.
During the unrest, several vehicles were set on fire, property was damaged, police officers were injured, and some residents found themselves trapped in their own homes as the riot continued for approximately nine hours.