Lorry driver found not guilty of cyclist’s death

James Jeffers Thompson, 52, of Rose Park, Tandragee, County Armagh, had denied causing the death by careless driving of Michael Caulfield.

Prosecution counsel said ‘following a review of evidence in this case’ the Crown was not offering any evidence.

On the direction of the judge, the jury found Mr Thompson not guilty.

Mr Caulfield (56), a father-of-four, died when he was struck by a lorry driven by Mr Thompson at the junction of Ormeau Road and Annadale Embankment on April 15, 2011.

A defence barrister said Mr Thompson had asked ‘his deepest sympathies be extended to Mrs Caulfield and her family’.

A mystery ‘ghost’ white bike was placed at the accident spot almost four years ago, the first tribute of its kind in Northern Ireland.

The first ‘ghost’ bike was created in the USA in 2003 and since then they have appeared at hundreds of sites worldwide.