{"id":2160327,"date":"2025-11-16T17:58:20","date_gmt":"2025-11-16T17:58:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2160327"},"modified":"2025-11-16T17:58:20","modified_gmt":"2025-11-16T17:58:20","slug":"you-ruined-our-family-with-no-consequences-family-of-grandmother-killed-by-royal-outrider-to-sue-police","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/you-ruined-our-family-with-no-consequences-family-of-grandmother-killed-by-royal-outrider-to-sue-police\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018You ruined our family with no consequences\u2019: Family of grandmother killed by royal outrider to sue police"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div id=\"main\">\n<div class=\"hydrate-root sc-10wlkbs-0\" data-component=\"Newsletter\" data-loading=\"lazy\" data-theme-name=\"base\">\n<aside class=\"sc-y4bm30-0 jwWhkK newsletter-component sc-1ge0fwe-0\" data-newsletter-key=\"receiveIndyBreakingNews\">\n<div class=\"sc-y4bm30-2 kcLSBk\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-y4bm30-1 inRDZn\">\n<div class=\"sc-y4bm30-3\">\n<div class=\"sc-y4bm30-4 hfveGa\">\n<p><h3 class=\"sc-y4bm30-5 sc-y4bm30-6 fvoxRM fafQAy\">For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails<\/h3>\n<h3 class=\"sc-y4bm30-5 sc-y4bm30-8 fvoxRM fvWmZq\">Sign up to our free breaking news emails<\/h3>\n<h3 class=\"sc-y4bm30-5 sc-y4bm30-7 fvoxRM hkVmms\">Sign up to our free breaking news emails<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<p><svg class=\"sc-eaj12q-0 hKcUSR sc-culv3z-0 eifaJK sc-1ix0cah-0 PYnPb sc-y4bm30-10 fUEDPX\"><use href=\"#600f53465147d717\"\/><\/svg><\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-y4bm30-2 kcLSBk sc-y4bm30-9 iQYNfz\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/static-assets\/images\/newsletters\/breakingNews1_1.png\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Breaking News\" class=\"sc-1mc30lb-0 ggpMaE\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<p>The grieving family of a grandmother <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/news\/uk\/crime\/edinburgh-metropolitan-police-old-bailey-london-buckingham-palace-b2658627.html\">killed by a motorcyclist<\/a> escorting the Duchess of Edinburgh through London have said they are suing the Metropolitan Police after he was acquitted.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/news\/uk\/home-news\/met-police-motorbike-christopher-harrison-b2864657.html\">Helen Holland<\/a>, 81, died two weeks after she was sent flying through the air while after being struck by a police outrider at a pedestrian crossing in West Cromwell Road, west London, on 10 May 2023.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/news\/uk\/crown-prosecution-service-london-metropolitan-police-iopc-the-duchess-b2624065.html\">PC Christopher Harrison<\/a>, 68, was travelling at between 44mph and 58mph as he approached the crossing, despite a 30mph limit.<\/p>\n<p>A jury found him not guilty of causing her death by careless driving on Thursday after almost two and half hours of deliberating. <\/p>\n<p>After the verdict was returned, one of Ms Holland\u2019s ten grandchildren shouted from the public gallery of the Old Bailey: \u201cYou ruined our family with no consequences.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"sc-awdjp1-2 cbpRGD sc-awdjp1-3 image align-center\">\n<figure class=\"sc-1cbdeug-0 cXcwgU\">\n<div data-gallery-length=\"4\" class=\"sc-awdjp1-0 gpMNO\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2023\/05\/13\/09\/newFile.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2023\/05\/13\/09\/newFile.jpg?quality=75&amp;width=320&amp;auto=webp 320w, https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2023\/05\/13\/09\/newFile.jpg?quality=75&amp;width=640&amp;auto=webp 640w\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Helen Holland, from Birchanger, Essex, was visiting her sister in London when she struck as she crossed the road\" class=\"sc-1mc30lb-0 ggpMaE inline-gallery-btn\"\/><\/p>\n<p><button class=\"sc-1uf4o3q-0 dkRtZs inline-gallery-btn\" id=\"trigger-autogallery-4935\"><span class=\"sc-1uf4o3q-1 hwVecx\">open image in gallery<\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"sc-1cbdeug-1 sc-1cbdeug-3 gtVitN hgzWpY\">Helen Holland, from Birchanger, Essex, was visiting her sister in London when she struck as she crossed the road<span class=\"sc-1cbdeug-7 exGSyR\"> <!-- -->(<!-- -->Family handout<!-- -->)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>Now the family has revealed they plan to sue the force \u2013 not because they want any money \u2013 but to acknowledge that the grandmother \u201cdid nothing wrong\u201d. The green man was illuminated, signalling it was safe to cross the road, when she was struck as she made her way home from visiting her sister. <\/p>\n<p>Ms Holland\u2019s son Martin, 59, described her as the \u201cheart\u201d and \u201cglue\u201d of their family.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thetimes.com\/uk\/royal-family\/article\/duchess-of-edinburgh-motorcycle-escort-cleared-helen-holland-hqgz3w5mz\">He told the <em>Sunday Times<\/em>: <\/a>\u201cWe are suing them just to make sure it\u2019s recognised. We\u2019re not in the slightest bit interested in compensation \u2014 it\u2019s about proving that mum did nothing wrong. She would never take a risk. Certainly crossing a road was one of the big risks that was important to her. She knew how to cross a road.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>On the day of the incident, PC Harrison was among the team of convoy motorbike outriders that was escorting Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, as she left the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office in King Charles Street just after 3pm.<\/p>\n<p>PC Harrison, who had 21 years of experience in the specialist escort group, was the main outrider in front of the hearse at Queen Elizabeth\u2019s funeral in September 2022.<\/p>\n<p>He told the court he \u201ccouldn\u2019t put it into numbers\u201d how many times he had undertaken the journey and that he was \u201cvery familiar\u201d with the route.<\/p>\n<div class=\"sc-awdjp1-2 cbpRGD sc-awdjp1-3 image align-center\">\n<figure class=\"sc-1cbdeug-0 cXcwgU\">\n<div data-gallery-length=\"4\" class=\"sc-awdjp1-0 SomIf\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2025\/11\/10\/15\/d7a8b71b111f241388cbc64f575678c5Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzYyODcyMzQ5-2.49478571.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2025\/11\/10\/15\/d7a8b71b111f241388cbc64f575678c5Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzYyODcyMzQ5-2.49478571.jpg?quality=75&amp;width=320&amp;auto=webp 320w, https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2025\/11\/10\/15\/d7a8b71b111f241388cbc64f575678c5Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzYyODcyMzQ5-2.49478571.jpg?quality=75&amp;width=640&amp;auto=webp 640w\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"PC Christopher Harrison, who was part of a convoy escorting the Duchess of Edinburgh, was cleared of death by careless driving\" class=\"sc-1mc30lb-0 ggpMaE inline-gallery-btn\"\/><\/p>\n<p><button class=\"sc-1uf4o3q-0 dkRtZs inline-gallery-btn\" id=\"trigger-autogallery-4936\"><span class=\"sc-1uf4o3q-1 hwVecx\">open image in gallery<\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"sc-1cbdeug-1 sc-1cbdeug-3 gtVitN hgzWpY\">PC Christopher Harrison, who was part of a convoy escorting the Duchess of Edinburgh, was cleared of death by careless driving<span class=\"sc-1cbdeug-7 exGSyR\"> <!-- -->(<!-- -->PA Archive<!-- -->)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>Ms Holland was 2.9 metres onto the crossing when PC Harrison\u2019s motorbike hit her. She suffered a skull fracture, bruising to her arms, legs and body, plus fractures to her lower legs.<\/p>\n<p>A post-mortem examination gave the cause of death as complications from a severe head injury.<\/p>\n<p>PC Harrison told jurors the collision was a \u201ctragic accident\u201d which occurred in circumstances that he had \u201cno control over\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>Under cross-examination, he accepted he forgot to switch on his body-worn camera and did not use his whistle as he approached the pedestrian crossing but insisted he had not been complacent that day.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe was just there in front of me,\u201d he told jurors. \u201cShe just appeared, between the kerb line and the point of collision. At no point did I see her on the island, I\u2019m sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"sc-awdjp1-2 cbpRGD sc-awdjp1-3 image align-center\">\n<figure class=\"sc-1cbdeug-0 cXcwgU\">\n<div data-gallery-length=\"4\" class=\"sc-awdjp1-0 ifURKJ\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2025\/11\/06\/11\/29df280fd0a69e7958805b1402e8697dY29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzYyNTE1NDA2-2.40523084.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2025\/11\/06\/11\/29df280fd0a69e7958805b1402e8697dY29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzYyNTE1NDA2-2.40523084.jpg?quality=75&amp;width=320&amp;auto=webp 320w, https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2025\/11\/06\/11\/29df280fd0a69e7958805b1402e8697dY29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzYyNTE1NDA2-2.40523084.jpg?quality=75&amp;width=640&amp;auto=webp 640w\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Jurors at the Old Bailey took almost two and half hours to acquit the Met officer\" class=\"sc-1mc30lb-0 ggpMaE inline-gallery-btn\"\/><\/p>\n<p><button class=\"sc-1uf4o3q-0 dkRtZs inline-gallery-btn\" id=\"trigger-autogallery-4937\"><span class=\"sc-1uf4o3q-1 hwVecx\">open image in gallery<\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"sc-1cbdeug-1 sc-1cbdeug-3 gtVitN hgzWpY\">Jurors at the Old Bailey took almost two and half hours to acquit the Met officer<span class=\"sc-1cbdeug-7 exGSyR\"> <!-- -->(<!-- -->PA Archive<!-- -->)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>Ms Holland\u2019s sister, Dorothy Phillips, 91, who attended every day of the Old Bailey trial, has been left too scared to cross the road in the wake of tragedy.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNow nobody can go across any green crossing with any security at all,\u201d she said. \u201cI won\u2019t. I\u2019m too frightened to even cross the road.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>PC Harrison is still likely to face disciplinary proceedings after a 12-month the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) investigation found there was sufficient evidence to indicate he may have breached the police standards.<\/p>\n<p>In a statement released after the trial, Commander Adam Slonecki said the Met are \u201cdeeply sorry\u201d, adding: \u201cWhile nothing we can say or do can make up for this loss, we have worked to safeguard against future tragedies regardless of today\u2019s outcome.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEscort riders now have bullhorns fitted to their motorcycles to ensure public safety. They use these in addition to their whistles to warn people they are approaching. We will now consider any misconduct matters for PC Harrison as soon as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><em> \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.independent.co.uk \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails The grieving family of a grandmother killed by a motorcyclist escorting the Duchess of Edinburgh through London have said they [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1957370,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[43],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2160327","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-royalty"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/How-to-watch-Taylor-Swifts-first-appearance-on-the-Kelces.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2160327","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2160327"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2160327\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2160328,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2160327\/revisions\/2160328"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1957370"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2160327"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2160327"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2160327"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}