IT had promised to be a relaxing family holiday and for the first time Joseph and Sheila were accompanied by their daughter Kerry, with her fiance Stephen Maguire and their four-month-old son Jack.

But an unforeseen and shocking event which unfolded in their Torrevieja holiday home last June brought tragedy in its wake and starkly demonstrated how it takes only seconds to forever change the lives of those involved.

Retired engineer 69-year-old Joseph died after being dragged along the road by a getaway car driven by burglars who struck while the family sunbathed in the garden.

Joseph tackled the thieves, trying to stop them making off with a camcorder containing precious memories of his grandson. He was dragged along the road, sustaining serious head injuries.

On June 28 Joseph died from a blood clot on his brain in a Spanish hospital.

Lancashire Police were formally called in to investigate the death following Mr McCaughran's inquest in October, when a verdict of unlawful killing was recorded.

Detectives have recently returned from the resort -- about 25 miles from Alicante -- where they met with their Spanish counterparts.

But Joseph's widow Sheila, whom he was married to for 25-years, has resigned herself to the fact that justice for her husband will never be served.

She said: "The Spanish Police still have the file open but I don't think anything will ever come of it, unless the men responsible commit another crime and it comes out then.

"Lancashire Police have been wonderful with me and have always kept me informed, but the more time passes the less I think someone will be caught.

"For my own peace of mind I have had to have some kind of closure on it, otherwise it would always torment me and I would never be able to put it behind me.

"Of course it would be nice if Joe did get justice but it was a tragic situation and I just have to see it that way."

Sheila, of Walden Road, Blackburn, has relied on the support of friends and family to get her through the first 12 months of her husband's death.

But today will be especially hard, not just for her but the couple's two children Kerry and Joe. Joseph also had a son, Michael, from a previous marriage.

Sheila said: "It has been a very difficult 12 months and I always knew today was going to be hard.

"Both Kerry and Joe have been brilliant. They are the two best children in the world and have been a constant source of emotional support for me.

"I have also had a lot of encouragement and backing from work colleagues and my two brothers, who have always made sure I am not on my own.

"I am so proud of how the family has rallied round and grateful to friends who have done their best to comfort me.

"The time seems to have flown by and in a way I'm glad I have got the first 12 months out of the way."

Joseph was cremated and Sheila is still undecided what to do with his ashes.

In his memory she plans to plant a tree in the garden -- the same way she remembered her father Jack Fox, when he died four years ago.

She said: "Joe was a great lover of nature. He lived in Canada for a while and I thought a Maple tree would be appropriate."

Although Sheila believes a milestone has been passed with the first anniversary of her husband's death, there are testing times ahead.

The coming months will see the graduation of son Joe, who successfully completed a Law degree at Swansea University -- an occasion which would have made Joseph extremely proud.

And on July 6 Kerry will marry fiance Stephen Maguire. Joseph, like any father, had spoken with pride about walking his daughter down the aisle.

Sheila said: "Weddings are emotional anyway but this is going to be especially so.

"Joe was so looking forward to walking Kerry down the aisle. I was going to walk her down myself, but perhaps her brother will do it instead.

"I will still have to tackle the father-of-the-bride speech, which will be very difficult for all of us."

Sheila still has the holiday home in Spain, although has only returned once since Joseph's death, in Easter to sort out paperwork.

For the time being she will keep it on, although does not know what the future will hold.

She said: "I'm still taking the situation one day at a time. Joe was a wonderful, loving husband and devoted father and grandfather. His death was a tragic waste of a life."

Detective Inspector Bob Eastwood, of Blackburn Police, was one of the officers who travelled to Torrevieja as part of the investigations.

He said today: "Mr McCaughran's death is probably one of the most tragic set of circumstances that anyone could have to endure.

"It was obvious from our time in Torrevieja that he was a well-respected person within the local community there and his death affected a lot of people."