THE family of the only North-East victim of the twin towers atrocity are bracing themselves for an emotional trip to New York for the first anniversary of the attack.

Terry and Linda McMahon, from Chester-le-Street, plan to attend the memorial service to be staged at Ground Zero on September 11, despite still struggling to come to terms with the loss of their son Gavin.

The 35-year-old former pupil of St Leonard's RC Comprehensive School in Durham was an insurance executive for the AON Corporation, working on the 99th floor of Tower Two of the World Trade Centre, when terrorists flew the first of two jets into the buildings.

His remains were later recovered by rescue teams from Ground Zero and subsequently identified through DNA profiling.

The family and close friends flew to New Jersey, for a funeral service last November before Gavin's remains were brought back to County Durham for private interment.

Next week's return to New York will prove poignant for both parents, but particularly for Mr McMahon, who was helping to decorate his son's new apartment last September.

They drove together to the centre of New York on the morning of September 11 before parting for the last time.

As his son headed into work, Mr McMahon set off to make a six-hour bus journey to visit his daughter, Gavin's sister, at her home in Cape Cod, New England.

Hours later he learned of his son's death in the terrorist attack that shocked the world.

The McMahons will be joined at the memorial service by Gavin's long-term girlfriend, New York attorney Bridget Fitzpatrick, who spoke last night of her struggle to cope since the tragedy.

"It's very difficult as the anniversary approaches," she said. "Everybody is publicly grieving, but you have your own grief.

"Work helps, but I have a pretty stressful job," said Bridget, a domestic violence prosecutor.

Miss Fitzpatrick said she came over to Chester-le-Street in July to visit the McMahons and Gavin's grave.

"That was very difficult, when I saw the ages of the people on the gravestones. They were all 75s and 77s, and there was that of Gavin, who was only 35 with all his life in front of him.

"A lot of people have told me they would love to have known him. He was a wonderful person."

Miss Fitzpatrick said that some days have been better than others during the grieving process, but there have been more bad ones recently in the run-up to the first anniversary.

While she, and Mr and Mrs McMahon pay tribute in New York, Gavin's cousin, Clive, and his wife, Pauline will represent the family at a memorial service at St Paul's Cathedral, London.

On the same day, mass will be said for Gavin at the family's parish church, St Cuthbert's RC, in Chester-le-Street.

Gavin's parents leave on Thursday for the US and plan to stay in Cape Cod prior to the service.

The McMahons have expressed their desire not to talk to the media at any stage during the run-up to, or after, the anniversary memorials.

They have been in contact with a London-based support group set up specifically to help British families caught up in the tragedy.

Specialist family liaison officers from Durham Police have also been in regular contact.

Inspector Neil Malkin, one of two officers assigned to the family, said Gavin will always be at the forefront of their minds.

"He was a loyal son, a member of a loving close-knit family. He used to ring home regularly for a chat and every Monday morning wanted to talk about the weekend's football results, and in particular, the fortunes of Sunderland."

Insp Malkin added: "There's no doubting Terry and Linda continue to struggle with their grief, but we all hope that as time goes by they will be better able to cope with their tragic loss."