THE family of a teenager killed on New Year’s Day have planted a tree in his memory.
Aspiring soldier Ian Gallagher was hit by a car on Mold Road, Gwersyllt, in the early hours of the morning.
The 17-year-old from Denbigh was taken to Wrexham Maelor Hospital but died later that day.
His family, friends and fellow students from the Motivational Preparation College for Training (MPCT) in Wrexham gathered on Lower Park in Denbigh to plant the mountain ash tree.
A plaque was also erected in his honour at the ceremony on Friday.
His mother Andrea said: “Ian loved the park and would spend a lot of time there.
“We wanted to do something that would always be there, and this tree is beautiful and changes colour with the seasons. It’s a place where his friends can go and sit and remember him, and reflect.”
Ian, who is also survived by father Alan, brother Phillip and sister Beth, would have celebrated his 18th birthday in September with a family trip to Florida. Andrea said: “Obviously we’re not going to do that now, but we will do something to celebrate his life. We will probably throw a family barbecue at home, and let off some fireworks instead.”
It has been more than six weeks since the former Denbigh High School pupil lost his life.
Andrea added: “We’re still not good. It’s still very surreal at the moment, I still don’t think it’s sunk in. The support we’ve had has been overwhelming; we would have cracked up without it.
“But there is nothing we can do. It’s happened and we must learn to live with it.”
Ian, who had a nine-month-old nephew Riley Jay, and whose grandparents live in Caerwys, had been a student at MPCT for six months before his death and had started his application to join the army.
More than 450 people have joined the memorial page on Facebook, RIP Ian Gallagher.
North Wales East and Central coroner John Gittins has opened and adjourned an inquest into his death.