Shock of ‘quiet man’s’ killing spree

THOSE who knew him were at a loss as to why Derrick Bird turned into a killer.

The 52-year-old was described as a “quiet” man by neighbours, while acquaintances said he was “fairly popular”.

None could have guessed that the divorced father – known as “Birdy” to friends – would turn into a gunman responsible for yesterday’s horrific shooting spree.

A friend of Bird’s, Peter Leder, told CNN that he was “an outgoing, well-known guy, who everyone liked”.

When they spoke last night, Bird chillingly told him: “You won’t see me again.”

Bird appears as a short-haired, well-built, middle-aged man in the photo handed out by police yesterday.

From Rowrah, near Frizington in Cumbria, he worked as a self-employed taxi driver. It is a job that he has done for more than two decades.

He was divorced and lived alone, according to Sue Matthews, a telephonist at A2B Taxis in Whitehaven.

She said: “To be honest, he was a quiet fellow. I am in absolute shock. I can’t believe he would do that – he was a quiet little fellow.”

Glenda Pears, who runs L&G Taxis, described him as a “real nice man”. She added he had two sons, but was divorced.

In his hometown of Rowrah, neighbours were similarly shocked at today’s events.

Derek Richardson said: “He kept himself to himself.”

Michelle Haigh, the landlady of Bird’s local, The Hound Inn in Frizington, described the regular as a “normal bloke”.

He would often stop off at the pub, which is about three-quarters of a mile from his home.

Ms Haigh said: “This is not in character with the Derrick Bird we know.”

Ryan Dempsey, 26, who lived two doors down, said: “I have known him for 15 years. He was always pleasant, always had time to say hello.

Mr Dempsey said he had never seen Bird carrying a gun or a shotgun, but he added that, in that part of the countryside, game shooting was not uncommon.

He said: “This is completely out of character. I had never seen him in a bad mood.”