By Lesley Walsh
HUNDREDS of people came together in Portaferry at the weekend to honour the memory of 12 year-old Lucas Trainor, raising more than £4,000 towards a new public defibrillator in a lasting tribute to the much-loved youngster.
One year after Lucas was fatally injured in a hit-and- run collision, family, friends and local residents took part in Lucas’ Legacy Run, a 12km walk and run organised to fund a defibrillator at the town’s RNLI station.
The fundraiser smashed its original £1,000 target, with any money raised beyond the cost of the lifesaving device to be donated to the RNLI.
Lucas’ grandmother, Eileen Kelly, said the family had been overwhelmed by the support shown by the community.
“It was an amazing turnout and the community all came together and all got
behind Nichola and it is very much appreciated,” she said on behalf of Lucas’ mother, Nichola Kelly.
Crowds flocked to the town to participate in the event staged to keep ‘Lucas’ legacy alive’ in a ‘positive’ way, following the shocking incident a year ago this week, which brought his young life to a cruel and untimely end.
The boy has been described by his loving mother as ‘an affectionate and caring son who brought joy to so many people’s lives’, and said she hopes his legacy served to prevent future tragedies by offering a second defibrillator in the town, close to the shore side location of the RNLI station.
The little boy had been riding a scooter in the Strand area of Portaferry when he was involved in a collision with a red Skoda Fabia. He died later from his injuries. Nichola has spoken of going through ‘the unbearable pain of losing a child’ and said she wanted ’Lucas’ legacy to be a positive one’, stating a defibrillator at the shore area of Portaferry could save another person’s life.
“Those who were first on the scene with Lucas had to go into the Square in the town to access a defibrillator, and this took precious time due to the one-way system. With the number of people using the Strand area, we feel another device here is really needed.
“If he were still with us, he would be right in the middle of the fun on Saturday,” she said of her precious son.
Nichola praised the RNLI for their efforts to save her son and the support the family have received from the community.
“Members of the RNLI were first on the scene to help Lucas therefore it is fitting that the surplus funds from Lucas’s Legacy Run goes to support the incredible work these volunteers do. I can’t speak highly enough of these people – they did absolutely everything they could to help Lucas, and we will never forget this.
“Portaferry is a wonderful community, and the outpouring of love and support my family has received during the past year has been truly incredible.”
Peter Andrew Milligan (51),of Ashmount Park in Portaferry, is currently on remand charged with 11 offences following the death of Lucas.
He was charged with causing death by dangerous driving, causing death by careless driving, failing to stop and failing to remain at the scene of an accident and failing to report it.
Milligan also faced charges over driving without insurance and without a licence, and of failing to provide a breath sample to police.
He was further charged with failing to stop, failing to remain at the scene and failure to report relating to a second crash which occurred shortly after the collision in which Lucas died.
