Gunman's mother plans to write to families of rampage victims

THE mother of crazed killer Derrick Bird plans to write to the families of those gunned down by her son.

As the Bird family gathered at the funeral of Bird's twin and first victim David yesterday, the Rev Jim Marshall said mother Mary planned to write letters of condolence to the families of the dead.

He told the mourners: "She said she'd been thinking it over and asked me to help compose letters to every one of the families who were bereaved."

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The twins' mother, 87, could not attend the service in Lamplugh, Cumbria, as she is in hospital and described as "frail". But a duplicate service was arranged at her bedside at Cockermouth Hospital.

Almost two weeks ago Bird, 52, flipped and went on a shooting spree after first killing his brother and family solicitor Kevin Commons, 60.

He went on to kill 10 others and finally, after a frantic police manhunt, he took his own life.

Yesterday, the family came together at St Michael's Church to pay their last respects to the twin brother he murdered. Several hundred mourners were inside with scores forced to stand outside.

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The twins' elder brother Brian was supported by David's estranged wife Susan and her three children, Rachel, 28, Tracey, 26, and Katie, 19.

The gunman's family was also represented by his eldest son Graeme, 28, and his wife Victoria.

The funeral of retired foreman Mike Pike, 64, was also held yesterday at Distington crematorium, Workington, with tributes from his wife Sheena, son Jason, 39, and daughter Jude, 38. Bird shot Mr Pike as he cycled through Seascale.