A POLICEMAN told an inquest that he saw a dad being kicked in the head by at least two men as he lay on a pavement near a Salford restaurant.

Pc Paul Twist said he didn't see victim Shane Eckersley, 40, strike a single blow.

And Shane's friend, Neil Snelgrove, described him as a "peacemaker" who didn't show any aggression.

Mr Eckersley died after being attacked outside The Saigon, in Lower Broughton Road, in November 2002.

He had gone to the bar at The Saigon with Mr Snelgrove.

But the pair were assaulted when they left, after Neil had been involved in a minor dispute inside the bar with a man who had started to blow kisses at him.

Pc Twist arrived at the scene to see Neil being attacked outside the pub and Shane on the other side of the road.

He saw a bottle thrown in Shane's direction and said: "Three males were fighting.

Protect

"Two of them were setting upon the third. I saw two kicking a male who was on the ground. I didn't see Shane throw a punch at all. The other two were kicking at his head."

Other witnesses said that up to seven hooded men were attacking Shane, who did not retaliate, but put his hands over his head to try to protect himself.

Shane, who was living in Gingham Park, Radcliffe, and leaves a son, now aged 14, died later from head injuries.

Mr Snelgrove said while he and Shane were in the bar, a man had started blowing kisses at him and he had asked him what his problem was.

Outside, a man tried to hit Mr Snelgrove with a bottle, but he stopped him and hit the attacker. Up to eight men then attacked Mr Snelgrove from all directions.

Mr Snelgrove said that during the confrontation in the bar, Shane had not been aggressive.

"He was a peacemaker. He would have been trying to keep the peace and sort it out between me and the lad," he said.

At the time of his death, Shane was getting his life back together after beating heroin addiction.

He was working as a volunteer at the Centre for Rehabilitation, Arts, Further Education and Training (CRAFT) in Prestwich, which helps people recovering from drug and alcohol problems.

Shane's mother, Dorothy Kay, told the inquest: "Shane was not a violent man and he did not deserve to have his life taken away in those circumstances."

Proceeding