Walkers call for safety measures

Dozens of people braved the weather to walk in memory of Motherwell schoolgirl Abbie McLaren last Wednesday night.

On the first anniversary of the Dalziel High School pupil’s tragic death, family and friends walked along The Loaning and called for tougher road safety measures to be put in place.

Abbie was killed there on February 12 last year when she was struck by a car just moments after stepping off a bus with pals.

In a shocking twist of fate, her dad John was travelling as a passenger in the car that struck the 12-year-old.

It was being driven by Hamilton man Martin McGuire, a dad-of-seven, who later admitted in court to death by dangerous driving, having no licence or insurance and driving at 50mph in a 30mph zone.

A year on, Abbie’s heartbroken mum Ashley Kennedy said:“If it wasn’t for this community, I don’t know where we would be.

“They have been amazing this last year, especially Scott Symington and his fellow team members at Safer Roads for North Motherwell, who have worked so hard to campaign for better road safety measures at The Loaning and elsewhere in the town.

“We would also like to say a huge thank you to everyone who participated in the walk for Abbie on Tuesday evening.

“It was a very difficult day for us all and we were really touched by the amount of people who came out in the bad weather to remember Abbie.”

Loved ones, friends and members of the community also laid floral tributes, candles, cards, notes and balloons at the spot in memory of the popular schoolgirl on Wednesday evening.

Organiser of the walk Scott Symington, who runs Safer Roads for North Motherwell, added:“I’d just like to thank each and every person who turned out in such nasty weather for such a sad occasion. We’re blown away by the support of our community.”

In June last year McGuire, the cousin of Abbie’s dad John, was sentenced to five years in jail.

Sentencing McGuire at the High Court in Edinburgh, Judge Lady Scott said at the time:“Abbie McLaren was 12-years-old. She was a child with her whole life ahead of her.

“She was well-loved by her close family, especially her mum, brothers and sisters and her grandparents.

“All have been left devastated and will be forever bereft.”