THE parents of "gentle giant" Anthony Leecy have told the mum of the man cleared of his murder: "We don't bear you any malice."

Speaking the day before 24-year-old Danny Derbyshire was acquitted of their son's killing, the Christian couple also thanked family, friends and work colleagues for helping them through their ordeal.

Anthony's pals have also hit out at claims during the trial that Anthony was a gambler with debts.

The battered body of popular Anthony, nicknamed Humphrey, was found in Mearley Brook, Clitheroe, on Good Friday.

Dad Tony Leecy was walking his dogs past the spot where Anthony's body had just been found and spotted the police activity.

"The area was cordoned off and there was a lot going on. I went into a nearby newsagents and some customers said a body had been found in the brook. I had absolutely no idea that it was Anthony. I remember thinking how tragic it was going to be for some poor family that day," Tony said.

Later, at Help the Aged here he is a volunteer worker, Tony received a phone call asking him to attend Clitheroe Hospital, where wife Ann works as a nursing assistant. "The police were there and told us that Anthony's body had been found. We were just stunned and numb. We couldn't take it in and to this day feel like we are watching a play," he said.

Tony suffered a physical breakdown shortly after Anthony's death and spent two weeks in the hospital being treated for an irregular heartbeat and high blood pressure. But the brave couple, of Standen Road, Clitheroe, bear no malice to the family of Derbyshire, who was acquitted of their son's murder at Preston Crown Court yesterday.

They had been preparing themselves for the possibility that Derbyshire might walk free from court.

"We don't bear his family any malice. We bumped into his mum in a pub in the summer and said if her son was convicted we wouldn't hold her responsible for his actions. It's not her fault what happened," Tony said.

Church-goers Tony and Ann said coping with their son's death had been made easier by the help and support of family, friends and work colleagues.

And they have joined Anthony's friends in refuting claims that their son was a gambler and in debt.

Friend Janet Jeffries, of Mayfield Avenue, Clitheroe, said: "Anthony liked bingo, that was it. We all do the lottery and most us have borrowed cash from time to time. We have been very upset about some of the things that have been alleged."

Another friend, Cheryl Harris, of Alma Place, Clitheroe, added: "Anthony was a gentle giant. He loved kids and worked hard. He wasn't a hard gambler. It's funny not having him around. We keep expecting him to walk through the door."

Such was Anthony's popularity, that his friends helped to raise £1,600 for the NSPCC in his memory.

"We were very touched by their gesture and would like to thank everyone who helped to raise the money.

"Anthony loved children and would have wanted his own one day.

"People have been so kind and we would like to thank everyone for their support in helping us cope with Anthony's death. We wouldn't have managed without them," Ann added.

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