Parents' tribute to tragic Joe

Tom and Gwen Geeling broke down in tears as they spoke of their "little angel". Cystic Fibrosis sufferer Joe, aged 11, was stabbed several times before his body was dumped in Whitehead Park, Bury, last week.

A 14-year-old boy was charged with his murder on Saturday and was appearing before Bury magistrates court.

Joe's parents paid an emotional tribute to a "special person" who did not let his illness hold him back.

Choking back tears, Joe's father, Tom Geeling, said his son supported Manchester City and also had a passion for motorbikes.

He said: "We did not wrap him in cotton wool, and he did not let his illness restrict him.

"He could ride his bike well and fix it and he always had every weekend planned from the start.

"From the start to the finish he was 100mph. Joe loved school, although it was a very big effort for him to get there.

"There are no outward signs of someone who suffers from cystic fibrosis.

"He did not want anyone to know how ill he was, and he would not realise how different he was to other children.

"I will always remember him for being a chatterbox and prankster, but he was also so considerate.

"He was a bit of an old man for his age. He was my best mate, he loved his mum to death and you could not wish for a better son.

"I will never forget him."

The family were told on Saturday that the body, which was discovered during a police search on Thursday, was that of their son and he was formally identified after a post-mortem examination the same day.

Joe, a pupil of St Gabriel's RC School, Bury, was reported missing on Wednesday afternoon after he failed to return to his home in the Devon Street area of Bury.

A search involving dozens of officers and Bolton Mountain Rescue Team began in freezing conditions and his body was found in a wooded gully at 11am on Thursday.

Police arrested a 14-year-old boy at St Gabriel's RC School within hours of the discovery and a search was carried out at the home address of the teenager, a semi-detached house near to the park.

Joe's body remained at the park until Friday night while a painstaking forensic examination took place.

Leaves and rocks which were covering his body were examined and removed by police.

Before an interview on Saturday night, Joe's family -- his parents, Tom and Gwen, sisters, Kelly and Danielle, and brothers, Sean and James -- issued a joint statement which read: "Everybody wants us to make a statement or give a few comments on how much Joe meant to us and what a loss he will be.

"None of you have enough time to hear how much he meant to us.

"How do you condense 11 years of fun and love and heartache, worries and accomplishments into a few words?

"Without exaggeration I can say that Joe was one of those special people that if you ever met him and spent even five minutes talking to him he would leave an impression on you that you would remember and usually with fondness.

"We were spoilt, we had him every day. He had a few problems being a child born with Cystic Fibrosis, but all those who knew him know that he refused to be restricted by that. He got on with life and made minimum fuss about his condition.

"He loved all the things every other little boy loves, like football, computer games, Bart Simpson, but he was also amazing when it came to problems of any sort.

"You always came away from him thinking to yourself: 'How come I couldn't think of that?' "You really needed to know him to appreciate his potential and now some of you will never know him. We used to say how good he was but like all little lads he was no angel - somebody just changed all that for us.

"Now we're sure he truly is a little angel."

Devastated pupils at Joe's school were due to be told this morning that the body found in the park was his.

Headteacher Eddie Robinson said: "Naturally our school community is shocked by the death of Joe Geeling, one of our Year seven pupils, and our thoughts and prayers are very much with his family at this difficult time.

"Joe was a lovely well-mannered boy who is going to be greatly missed by all of his teachers, friends and fellow pupils here at St Gabriel's.

"We are mindful of the emotional trauma this has placed on our pupils and staff, and we are very grateful for the support we are receiving from our priests, the wider church community and the local authority.

"Obviously, circumstances surrounding Joe's death have shaken our school community."

Prayers were said for Joe at services in churches in the town on Sunday.

His family attended mass at St Marie's, where Joe had been baptised.

Fr Anthony Lawton, who said Mass at St Marie's, said Joe's death had shocked the whole community.

"Since news of his disappearance was announced on Wednesday, our school and parish communities have been comforted greatly by the prayers and support of everybody in the borough," he added.