Tributes paid to boy killed in road accident near Elgin playpark

TRIBUTES have been paid to a schoolboy who was killed by a van close to his home.

Police said the child – who has been named locally as Kieran Mcquillan, 7 – was struck by a red Renault Master van in Elgin, Moray, near a playpark on Friday night.

Last night, locals paid tribute to tragic Kieran, leaving flowers at the scene of the accident in the New Elgin area of the town.

A message on one bunch read: “Kieran, you were the best little cousin the world. I’m going to miss you, lots of love, Connor.”

Another said: “If I could have one wish it would be to have you knocking on my door with your cheeky smile. Love you and miss you so much. Cola.”

A crowd-funding page started by Marrie Quinn to raise funds to help pay for Kieran’s funeral has already gathered more than £2000.

In a statement on the page, Ms Quinn said: “My best friend since school has lost her son who was tragically killed six days after celebrating his seventh birthday.

“He was a very clever boy doing well in school. I cringe at having to create this page and ask for such support but it is genuinely required for such a loving mother who didn’t deserve to be holding a funeral for such a young boy.”

Tributes have also been sent to Kieran’s father who is believed to be Gavin Mcquillan.

A post on Mr Mcquillan’s page from Michaela Street said he had tragically recently lost another child, an infant daughter.

It said: “Please join me in sending much love to Kieran’s family.

“He has sadly gone to join his beautiful sister on the stars.”

It added the distraught family had already suffered “the heartbreaking loss of a baby weeks old and now, tragically, seven-year-old Kieran in an accident in Elgin.”

There was no answer at Mr Mcquillan’s Inverness home last night. It is understood he was too upset to talk.

A neighbour said she saw a child’s scooter under the wheels of the van on Friday night.

“It’s terribly sad,” she said.

“A lot of children go to that park and we’ve always said it was dangerous that there is no path for children to walk on – they just have walk on the road.”

Elgin councillor Patsy Gowans said: “This was a horrible tragedy to hear about and my thoughts are with the family.”

The van was being driven by a 46-year-old man who was uninjured in the incident.

Police have appealed for witnesses to the crash which is being treated as an accident.