THE widow of a cyclist knocked down and killed three years ago wept yesterday as details of his death were revealed to a coroner's court.
Michael Caulfield (56) died almost instantly after he was hit by a lorry in south Belfast in April 2011.
The father-of-four, who worked as a Winemark general manager, suffered catastrophic injuries in the accident on the Ormeau Embankment.
Several months after the crash, a 'ghost bike' memorial was set up on the Ormeau Bridge in memory of Mr Caulfield.
His widow, Bernadette Caulfield, told an inquest yesterday he had always been a keen cyclist and went for an early morning ride almost every day.
Choking back tears, Mrs Caulfield recalled how, on his return home, her husband always set the breakfast table before waking her and getting the rest of the family up.
She realised something was wrong when a neighbour told her there had been an accident on the Ormeau Road.
"I had my neighbour contact police to report Michael missing," she said in a statement.
Mrs Caulfield said the couple would have celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary in September 2011 and described her husband as meticulous, honest and hard working.
The hearing at Mays Chambers in Belfast was told that Mr Caulfield, of Saintfield Road, Belfast, had been wearing a cycle helmet.
It is thought he fell off the Giant road bike when it was hit by the front wheel of the lorry and went into the path of the vehicle's rear wheels.
A postmortem examination concluded Mr Caulfield's death had been "rapid" after he suffered extensive injuries.
Delivery driver James Thompson, who was acquitted of causing Mr Caulfield's death after the Public Prosecution Service offered no evidence against him, also gave evidence yesterday.
Mr Thompson said he had checked his mirrors and used his indicators to let other road users know of his intention to turn left at the junction traffic lights.
"While I was turning I checked my mirrors for safety and clearance. I was clear of the kerb and everything was clear behind me," he said.
Mr Thompson, who had 20 years' experience, said he did not know he had hit anything but pulled over because he thought the lorry had a mechanical problem.
Questions were raised over whether Mr Caulfield had been using the cycle lane as he approached the lorry.
Van driver Terence Irwin told the court he had seen a cyclist riding up the middle of the road and swerving as though unsure which direction to turn.
Coroner Suzanne Anderson concluded that Mr Caulfield's death was from multiple injuries sustained during the crash.
Mrs Caulfield was too distressed to speak outside the court.