THE distraught wife of tenth Clutha victim Joe Cusker broke down in tears as she recalled the horror of losing her "soul-mate".

Former council worker Joe, 59, from Cambuslang, died 13 days after the tragedy at Glasgow Royal Infirmary's intensive care unit when his organs shut down.

His wife Margaret, 58, son Kieran, 29, and stepson David McClemont, 32, were all certain he would pull through but his injuries were too severe.

One of the happiest days of Joe's life was when he finally wed the love of his life Margaret, at Rutherglen Town Hall, after 24 years together.

They should have celebrated their third wedding anniversary on February 4 but Joe never came home from a night out at the Clutha bar on November 29 last year, when the police helicopter crashed on to the pub.

Joe wasn't just Margaret's best friend, he was also her full-time carer because she suffers from a heart condition and fibromyalgia, which means she is in constant pain and has mobility problems.

Her world collapsed after his death because not only had she lost her husband, she was forced to move out of their specially adapted home and move in with stepson David, his wife Caroline and grandchild Molly, two, because she can't live alone.

The couple met more than 30 years ago when Joe was her boss at the council housing services.

They began a relationship six years later, after Joe separated from his first wife.

Margaret said: "Joe was my soul-mate, my best pal and my carer. We were together 24/7 and we complemented each other.

"I couldn't have wished for a better man.

"He wouldn't let me lift a finger and he was so caring. He was a big softy. Joe was far from perfect but he made me laugh all the time and he had a dry, black sense of humour.

"He was an intelligent man and he didn't like popular culture.

"He would only read or watch things on the TV which were educational.

"He thought anything less was a waste of his time.

"I am lost without him. I feel empty and the only thing that keeps me going is my wee granddaughter Molly and the fact that my son and his wife are there to support me.

"I don't like to have to rely so much on them to look after me but I don't have any choice as I can't live alone.

"My whole world has been turned upside down."

MARGARET wept as she relived the night he left the house to join his pals for a few drinks at the Clutha.

She hadn't been well and Joe had wanted on staying home to look after her but Margaret told him to go out and enjoy himself because she was going to have an early night.

Margaret said: "I feel guilty for forcing him out the door that night. If I hadn't insisted he would still be here.

"I told him to go out and that I would be fine because I was just going to my bed early anyway."

At around 1.30am on Saturday November 30, Margaret woke to a call from one of Joe's close pals Danny Docherty to tell her that there had been an accident and that Joe was in Glasgow Royal Infirmary.

She said: "I thought Joe was OK because Danny said I should go to the hospital to pick him up. I don't think anyone knew how serious his injuries were at that point.

"David and I went to hospital and he was in intensive care. When we saw him he was still conscious and had been thanking the nursing staff for looking after him but he was confused.

"His body was black with bruises but we were hopeful that he would get home.

"We lost him less than 24 hours after he had a bowel operation 13 days after the accident. His organs began shutting down.

"I never got the chance to hold him or tell him how much I loved him before he died and that is the worst thing.

"Joe was such a fit, healthy man for his age who loved his hillwalking and I never thought for a minute that I would lose him.

"What keeps me going is talking to my lovely granddaughter Molly about her grandad and sharing the memories with her. If I didn't have that I don't know where I would be."

Her son David, 32, had known Joe since he was nine years old.

He said: "When Joe died, it was like losing a dad. He was a carer for my mum and we were making plans to help him get back on his feet and take over responsibility for my mum when he died."

David added that there had been setbacks but until shortly before he died "we were still expecting him to make a full recovery".

janice.burns@eveningtimes.co.uk