Jessie's mother said she was aware that gangs were in the area

Barbara Reid urged people to stand up and condemn gun violence but admitted she may have antagonised the gangs.

Jessie, 15, was killed after being shot three times as he rode through Broadfield Park in Moss Side, Manchester in September 2006.

Two men being questioned on suspicion of the murder have been bailed.

The men, aged 21 and 20, and with links to Manchester street gangs, were already in prison and have now been bailed until September 20 while detectives make further inquiries.

He was under immense pressure. It's been going on for a number of months and the thing is Jessie kept it to himself Barbara Reid, Jessie's mother

Ms Reid told last week's inquest into the schoolboy's death that he was shot down in the notorious area of the city because he had "humiliated" a gang by refusing to join them.

She had been aware a gang was operating in her area before Jessie was killed but did not act because he never told her about the threat he faced, Ms Reid explained.

"I am aware that the gang is in our community, deep-rooted in our community, but because Jessie did not tell us that he was under any threat, I just tried to live it down," she said.

"He was under immense pressure. It's been going on for a number of months and the thing is Jessie kept it to himself and we, his family, were not aware of the sheer hell he was going through.

Anonymous witness

"Jessie thought he and his friends had got that under control but it is a pity they did not know that it was far bigger than them," she added.

His death had previously been surrounded by a wall of silence but an anonymous witness came forward for the first time to identify the pair.

The inquest into the teenager's death was adjourned on Wednesday when the new witness, known only as XZ, came forward.

Special measures had been put in place to protect witnesses at the inquest, which was being held at Manchester Crown Court.