James was celebrating start of new business
THE sister of a British man feared killed in the terror attack urged the country to unite against hatred yesterday.
James McMullan, 32, was on a night out with friends to celebrate the launch of a £1million business when he was caught in the attack.
His younger sister Melissa fought back tears as she paid a moving tribute to him and issued a heartfelt plea for people to oppose the terrorists.
Ms McMullan, 30, said: ‘While our pain will never diminish, it is important for us all to carry on with our lives in direct opposition to those who would try to destroy us and remember their hatred is the refuge of small-minded individuals and will only breed more.
‘This is not a course we will follow, despite our loss.’
Her brother had not been formally identified as a victim, but Ms McMullan said his bank card had been found on one of the bodies.
He is believed to be the only British victim to have died.
Mr McMullan, from Hackney, northeast London, was with old school friends at the Barrowboy and Banker pub when he stepped outside moments before the terrorists crashed their van and began stabbing people indiscriminately.
His sister said it had been his first night out in months as he had been working round-the-clock preparing to launch an e-learning business.
She praised her ‘generous and caring’ brother, saying: ‘Words will never be able to match his essence. There will only ever be one James. Nowhere else will you find such humour and unique personality in someone who put friends and family above all else. He was an inspiration.’
She said her family wanted to thank the emergency services, adding: ‘They did their utmost to serve and protect the population of London from these deranged and deluded individuals.’
Ms McMullan said her parents Simon and Mila, a retired couple were devastated.
The family had been unable to contact James after the attack and his friends had searched nearby hospitals in a desperate attempt to find him.
Simon McMullan, 61, vowed to try to launch his ‘exceptional’ son’s business in his memory.
He said: ‘He was on the verge of signing his first contract, a £1.15million deal.
‘It will radically change the face of education – I am going to continue his work. My son really was an exceptional man.’