AN inquest into the death of a ‘loyal and much-loved’ dad-of-three killed by a careless driver has been formally suspended.

The case of Darren Maironis was heard before Warrington Coroner’s Court on Wednesday morning.

The high school maths teacher, from Tyldesley, was involved in a fatal collision that occurred at the junction of Chelford Road and Bridge Road, near Goostrey, at 3.40pm on July 17, 2021.

Mark Beresford admitted causing the death of Mr Maironis, who at the time was on his bike competing in a cycling time trial near Jodrell Bank, by careless driving.

The 44-year-old defendant, of Merebrook Road in Macclesfield, was sentenced to 10 months in prison suspended for two years at Chester Crown Court on Tuesday, August 8.

Warrington Coroner’s Court heard how the inquest will come back before the courts in the next six months for a pre-inquest review hearing.

Concluding the brief hearing, Jaqueline Devonish, senior coroner for Cheshire, said: “I formally suspend the inquest to review and decide if there is a need to proceed with an inquest.”

The crown court previously heard how Mr Maironis hit the side of the flatbed Ford Transit van driven by Beresford as it entered the cyclist’s lane to turn right.

The victim suffered severe head injuries, multiple fractures to his face and chest, and laceration to his heart and liver.

The 48-year-old was rushed to the Royal Stoke University Hospital, where he underwent surgery, but he sadly died of his injuries on July 18.  

A blood test four hours after the incident revealed Beresford, a warehouse operative, had been using cannabis, though he was under the legal driving limit of 2mg per 100ml of blood.

The victim’s wife, Louise Maironis, read her victim impact statement aloud in court, describing she and her husband as ‘perfect soulmates’.

She said he was ‘strong, loyal and determined’, and his three children were his ‘greatest joy’.

She said her husband’s death was ‘incomprehensibly painful’, adding ‘the family will never be the same again’.

Referring to Bereford's van, one witness told police at the scene: “I could not believe my eyes when it did not stop. It was not going particularly fast, but it just kept going.”

Defending, Tom Gent, said Beresford has no previous convictions or cautions, and had a good driving record up to the time of the collision.

He explained he has a learning difficulty and is a ‘kind, hard-working man’, who cares for and financially supports his mother, who is unwell.

He added: “This was a mistake on my client’s part, not a case of deliberately bad driving.”

“No day goes by when he doesn't think of the consequence of his actions.

“He is cursed with regret and tormented by feelings of guilt. He is so sorry for what he did, and the pain he has caused."

Sentencing, judge Simon Berkson said: “This is properly described as a tragic case in which a 48-year-old man with three children was killed.

“You should have seen him, and you should not have carried out the manoeuvre when you did.

“There is ample evidence of your considerable remorse, however the guilt and anxiety you are suffering is nothing compared with that of Darren’s family.”

Beresford was also handed 200 hours of unpaid work in and for the benefit of the community.