THE heartbroken mother of John Dookie has spoken out to pay tribute to him for the first time since his tragic death.

Less than a week after her son's emotional funeral Marlene Dookie described her love for the 22-year-old who died after an alleged late night incident on Preston's Moor Lane.

Mrs Dookie, of Pear Tree Crescent, Walton-le-Dale, talked of the special bond she had with her son: "John was a premature baby - we went through a lot.

"He was kind-hearted. If he had done something wrong, like coming in a bit late one night, he would turn up the next day with a big bunch of flowers for me.

"He didn't have a bad bone in his body. He had a lot of friends and would always stop to say hello to people or help anyone in trouble."

Mrs Dookie said the loss had deeply affected the family - dad Tom, elder brothers Edmund and Robroy and John's younger brother Philip.

But she added that they took comfort in knowing where John had gone.

She said: "He was a very good son and brother, he was like a best friend to us all.

"John is in heaven now, we've only buried his flesh. We will never forget him."

And the man who conducted the funeral service in front of a packed congregation of family and friends last Friday (April 18) also paid tribute to him.

Reverend Mike Hartley, of St Aidan's Church, Bamber Bridge, said: "John had a lot going for him. He was a clever, good looking and kind lad.

"During the service I said he might have had his future taken away but you couldn't take away the past."

Four men have been charged with John's murder.

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