Tributes to father, young son and friend killed in pile-up

Islanders mourn loss after three die in crash

By Rita Campbell

Published:

A close-knit island community was in mourning last night after a father, his young son and a family friend died in a horrific collision.

Farmer and haulier Dugald Mactaggart, 38, his son Jamie, 10, and Neil MacFadyen, 47, were killed in a four-vehicle pile-up in icy conditions on Islay.

The three were travelling in a Skoda Felicia pick-up truck driven by Mr Mactaggart when it collided with a Scania tipper lorry.

It is understood the Skoda hit a cow on the A846 Port Askaig-Bowmore road, near Bridgend, before the crash on Tuesday evening.

Last night, locals described their shock at the accident, close to the Mactaggarts’ home at Lyrabus Farm, and paid tribute to the dead trio.

Mr MacFadyen, a mechanical contractor who worked on Mr Mactaggart’s farm, lived with his parents, Isobel and Donald, at Carn Farm, Port Charlotte.

Father-of-three Mr Mactaggart, who was also a volunteer firefighter, was married to Fiona, 37. Jamie was the eldest of their three children and was brother to Calum, 9, and Katie, 3.

His head teacher at Port Charlotte Primary School, Nick Trussler, described Jamie as an “exceptional individual” and a “truly inspirational pupil”.

He offered his condolences to the family on behalf of the school’s staff and pupils, adding: “The loss of Jamie is a terrible tragedy which has been felt by the whole community of Islay and our local community on the Rhinns.

“Jamie was an exceptional individual, held in high regard by everyone associated with school life at Port Charlotte Primary School. He will be remembered by us all as a highly-motivated boy, always willing to help others, no matter how big the challenge ahead was.

“Jamie was an enthusiastic pupil, always willing to try his best in a wide range of school activities. He took a leading role in our school’s gardening club, achieving a range of successes at local shows.

“Jamie was a keen artist, with some of his artwork being published nationally in a magazine. He was also a natural performer, taking on leading roles in school drama productions and always raising a smile and a laugh from the audience when on the stage.

“We will all cherish the fond and happy memories we have of a truly inspirational pupil and will miss Jamie greatly.”

A former teacher of both Mr Mactaggart and Mr MacFadyen from their time at Islay High School said the pair were “really good guys”.

Graham Brown, a retired PE teacher and deputy head, of Distillery House, Port Charlotte, said: “I’m just absolutely shocked. They were two really good guys. I am devastated for their families. It is just awful.”

The island’s local councillor, Robin Currie, of Bruichladdich, who is also a cousin of Mr Mactaggart’s widow, described the accident as a “real tragedy for a close-knit community”.

He added: “It is so hard to take in. The loss of three young lives. It is often said, but it is very much true in this case, they were quiet members of the community, extremely hard-working young men who got on with their lives.

“Dugald was very much a family person.

“They will very much be missed. It is a real tragedy that it happened on their own doorstep, so close to home.

“You just can’t start to think how the families are feeling at this time. It is bad enough for us as people of the island, but for the families it must be just total devastation.”

Paul Connelly, Argyll and Bute area commander with Strathclyde Fire and Rescue, arrived on Islay yesterday morning with two colleagues to offer support.

Police inquiries are continuing to try to piece together what caused the crash.

In January 2005, five members of a Uist family were killed while attempting to flee a hurricane on a single-track causeway between Benbecula and South Uist.

Archie and Murdina Macpherson died with their two young children, Hannah and Andrew, as well as Murdina’s father, Calum Campbell.