DEAN’S DREAM TO BE REALISED FAMILY SET TO LAUNCH TRAGIC NI BARBER’S BUSINESS
We are hoping that this shop will be the start of something amazing
THE family and friends of Dean McIlwaine — the tragic Newtownabbey hairdresser whose body was found on Cavehill last month — have revealed that they’re pressing ahead with the opening of his new barber’s shop.
Dean (22) had told his relatives and fiancée Demi-jo McMahon that he was excited about the prospect of realising his dream of opening his salon in the Woodford area not far from his home — but he disappeared without explanation on July 13.
Dean was last seen in the Carnmoney Road area of Newtownabbey and police released security camera footage of him in a shop on the day he went missing. His parents Rod and Karen issued emotional appeals for Dean to come home.
His brother Glen said the family were lost without the brother he idolised.
Hundreds of people from both sides of the community joined frantic searches for the popular, award-winning hairdresser whose body was eventually found by volunteers in thick undergrowth in Cavehill Country Park nine days after he vanished.
Police said they weren’t treating the young man’s death as suspicious.
His mother Karen said she didn’t know how she would live without him.
Dean’s brother Glen posted a message on Facebook yesterday to confirm that his brother’s ‘gentleman’s barber shop’ would soon be in business.
He also posted pictures of the interior of the stylish shop which his brother had called Dean Samuel’s — his own two Christian names.
Glen’s post to his brother added: “Won’t be long until we have your shop open now Dean Mac … just wish you were here to open it yourself mate.”
One of Dean’s closest friends, Davy Rodgers, had left flowers and a coffee cup with the message “This one’s on me brother” in a personal tribute to Dean outside the salon after his death.
Davy told the Belfast Telegraph: “It’s an absolute honour and joy to say that Dean Samuel’s, the Gentleman’s Barber, will be opening very soon.”
Davy estimated that the shop would be welcoming its first clients in around three weeks’ time “once the last bits and pieces have been finished”.
He added: “We are hoping that this shop will be the start of something amazing, and that our friend Dean Mac would be proud of the outcome.
“This shop will be everything that Dean wanted and we will take it to the clouds with us and make the name one that will be talked about with pride.
“Please spread the word and we hope to see you all there.”
Hundreds of people have shared or liked the messages on Facebook and they all said that Dean would have been proud of the salon, which they added would be a perfect way of honouring him.