JOHNNY Delaney died after being attacked on a playing field off Lydden Road, Ellesmere Port, at 5.50pm on Wednesday, May 28.

Paramedics were called to the scene by children who had been playing golf and had gone to retrieve their ball when they saw Johnny.

Realising he had been injured following a confrontation with some youths, the children dialled 999 on a mobile phone.

A man rushed out and tried to give Johnny mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

Paramedics administered first aid at the scene before taking Johnny to the Countess of Chester Hospital.

He was pronounced dead shortly after arriving there.

A post-mortem examination revealed the 15-year-old had died from a 'blunt force head injury'.

Johnny had lived with his mother, Winifred, and his father, Patrick, on the Tara Park caravan site on Oil Street, Vauxhall, Liverpool.

He was in Ellesmere Port visiting friends.

Following his death, Mr and Mrs Delaney said in a statement: 'Johnny was a loveable character and was loved by everyone who knew him.

'We are both totally devastated by this incident.'

Johnny, who went to school in Liverpool, leaves two brothers and four sisters.

After his death, members of the travelling community went through a period of mourning.

Dozens moved to Liverpool and Ellesmere Port from Kent, London, Ireland and Manchester to show their support for Johnny's grieving family and friends.

Those who knew him paid tribute to the schoolboy by laying out a shrine to his memory on the playing field.

There were five bouquets of flowers hanging on a chain-link fence nearby, with a 'deepest sympathy' card and a cardboard notice reading: 'Johnny, Love from Lorry's Paddy.'

On the field, a small patch of grass was cordoned off with police tape.

It contained two pot plants, both bearing the message: 'To Johnny, from your friend Bernadette. Love You.'

Nearby stood a picture of Jesus, a small ornament from Ireland, where Johnny and his family originated, and five candles.

There was also a statue of the Virgin Mary.

Johnny's relatives later told the Pioneer how some people had been seen damaging the shrine and trying to burn the ornaments, including the statue of the Holy Mother and a flower planted in the boy's memory.

On September 24, family and friends attended a mass in honour of Johnny at a Liverpool church, then descended on the playing field where he was killed.

The group travelled to the Delaney family's home region, near Carlow, Ireland, for the burial service later that Thursday.

On the night of Johnny's death, Cheshire Constabulary arrested five local youths - three 15-year-olds and two 16-year-olds - in connection with the case.

Two were charged with murder and taken to court. The other three were released without charge.

Security was tight when the two teenagers - who cannot be legally named - appeared at Chester Youth Court, then later at Chester Crown Court.

Police officers patrolled the premises at each court hearing, with emotions running high every time the accused were driven from the court buildings.

Last Friday morning, the two youths were found guilty of manslaughter at Chester Crown Court.