THE family of Bangor teenager Jaidyn Rice have been praised for ‘leading legislative change’ in the year following her tragic death.
Her heartbroken family have taken their fight to Stormont to seek mandatory drug testing at road traffic collisions in the 12 months since the 16 year-old was killed on Bangor’s dual carriageway
Despite their overwhelming grief, the family have championed ‘Jaidyn’s Law’, meeting with both Justice Minister Naomi Long and Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins in a bid to change legislation.
North Down Assemblyman Stephen Dunne praised the ‘incredible work in one year’ carried out by the family, as he addressed a vigil held to mark the first anniversary of Jaidyn’s death on July 8, last year.
Mr Dunne has worked alongside the family on ‘Jaidyn’s Law’ which has received unanimous support in Stormont and is currently at the blue paper stage within the Justice Bill and is up for consideration.
The family’s campaign has also won the support of North Down MP Alex Easton, and UUP councillor Pete Wray and former Mayor Gillian McCollum are leading the bid to have a memorial bench installed in Jaidyn’s memory.
DUP Assemblyman Peter Martin and councillors Wesley Irvine and Carl McClean were among 100 people who attended the poignant vigil.
People of all ages gathered to mark the first anniversary since Jaidyn was killed on the West Circular Road carriageway as she walked her friend home.
Family members, including Jaidyn’s mother Elaine Clarke, her brother Kenley and grandmother Judith Rice led the vigil as it walked down the Clandeboye Road.
Holding floral wreaths, the devoted family wore white ‘Jaidyn’s Army’ t-shirts, with the pink lettering on the front calling for ‘Justice for Jaidyn’.
Members of the DICE youth group, where Jaidyn was a young leader, followed as members of Bangor Protestant Boys Flute Band played a selection of songs in her honour.
Standing at the accident site, Jaidyn’s mother Elaine Clarke, told the gathering that her daughter ‘would be so humbled and grateful at the outpouring of love and support she has received from her community over the past year’.
She urged the community to support their campaign saying: “Please continue to support us in our fight for justice, in our fight for Jaidyn and everything she stood for. Please help us never let her memory be forgotten. Please never stop saying her name. Jaidyn, forever 16, forever loved, forever perfect.”
Family members and Bangor Protestant Boys then laid wreaths at the wooden heart memorial at the side of the carriageway. The gathering also listened to Jaidyn’s funeral song, ‘In The Stars’ by Benson Boone.
Everyone was then given small pink flags to write a message, prayer or tribute to Jaidyn. These flags were then placed in the roadside memorial in a moving display of love and support for Jaidyn and her family.,
