Death of ‘very caring’ Scott has devastated community

Death of ‘very caring’ Scott has devastated community

13 April 2016

MOTOR sport enthusiasts from across Ireland travelled to Spa on Sunday to pay tribute to Scott McNeill.

Twenty one year-old Scott, from Dromara, died on Thursday after suffering catastrophic injuries in a road traffic accident in Carryduff the night before.

The young father of one, a mechanic by trade, had enjoyed a passion for cars from an early age and was involved in Down Autograss with his father, David.

Almost 100 friends of the motor sport club, many of whom had raced against Scott during his life, travelled from across Ireland to form a guard of honour for him outside Magherahamlet Presbyterian Church in Drumgavlin on Sunday afternoon.

Down Autograss chairman Colin Wood said two of Scott’s cars were also parked outside the church as a token of respect.

He said Scott, who started racing at about 12, had been fixing cars from an extremely young age and had shown a remarkable flair for mechanics.

“He had hands like nobody else. If Scott couldn’t fix a car, nobody could have fixed it,” he said.

“If he couldn’t get a car going, it basically wasn’t worth getting going. He was so talented.”

Colin said Scott’s loss was acutely felt and had spread sadness across the motor sport community.

“It is devastating for his family. There is nothing we can do about it but his death has caused so much pain,” he said.

Church Minister, Rev David Hyndman, who had known Scott since childhood, said Scott’s loss had left a huge hole in the Magherahamlet and Dromara community.

“He was just a typical young man. Really full of enthusiasm and excitement for life, but with a very caring heart,” he said.

Also remembering Scott, who worked at breakdown firm Watson Recovery, as “very practically-minded”, Rev Hyndman said cars and mechanics had been a great passion from an early age.

Tributes have flooded social media since Scott’s death with friends and acquaintances speaking of their shock at the loss of a young life.

“Another very sad house in our community,” wrote one friend, while one commented on how “life can be so cruel.”

“You’ll be in our hearts forever and will be missed dearly. Heaven has gained another angel,” another friend wrote.

Police have appealed for anyone who was travelling on the Ballynahinch Road and who witnessed the collision to contact officers in Lisburn Police Station or the Collision Investigation Unit in Sprucefield on 101.

Scott is survived by his parents David and Patricia, siblings Andrew and Jemma and son Sam.