MECHANIC David Jones, one of two defendants cleared of a manslaughter charge, said that the jury had vindicated his view that no one was guilty in this case.
Mr Jones, 51, of Ramsey, and Philip Firth, 46, of Laxey, had denied they were responsible for the manslaughter of 13-year-old cyclist James Berry, who was hit by a wheel which came loose from a lorry.
The prosecution brought the charges claiming the two mechanics were negligent in fitting a wheel to the lorry two days earlier.
>> Mechanics cleared of manslaughter charges Mr Jones said he had sympathy for James's parents but he believed all along that he had done nothing wrong in repairing the Leyland DAF lorry two days before a wheel came loose and hit the teenage cycling star.
'I am very relieved that this nightmare is now over,' said Mr Jones in a statement handed to reporters after he walked out of court following the jury's verdict yesterday (Thursday).
'I have always maintained that no one was guilty in this case.
'I have great sympathy for the family of James Berry, but I feel that in pursuing this case Isle of Man police have prolonged their agony needlessly.
'The UK Government commissioned a detailed report into the subject of wheel loss several years ago, which was printed shortly after I was charged.
'It failed to determine any one case of HGV wheel detachment and recommended further research on wheel nut locking devices.
'It also suggested the possibility of a fundamental re-design of the method of attaching wheels.
'If this is the current state of play in the UK how can Isle of Man police presume to know better?'
Mr Jones said he was looking forward to getting his life 'back to normal after 18 months of stress worrying about the case'.
Mr Firth left court without making any comment to the media.
