AN ONLINE APPEAL for owners of a specific high-end car to lead the funeral procession of the seven-year-old killed on an Elgin street has reached far and wide.
Kieran McQuillan was thought to be out playing on his scooter just days after his birthday when he was struck by a van close to his home at Brechin Rig.
An online appeal subsequently launched by family friend Marrie Quinn to help with funeral expenses having reaching £7735 this morning.
At the weekend Marrie issued a renewed appeal – this time seeking out two Subaru Impreza cars to lead the funeral – preferably as near identical as possible to the racing cars made famous by the Subaru World Rally Team.
Her appeal reached out throughout the country – and was answered by a man living in the Cairngorms National Park who was first to respond. Dylan Ritchie said that he had already heard about the tragic circumstances of Kieran’s death, so when told about the car appeal he contacted Mrs Quinn.
He said: “I have owned this care for about a year – but I’ve been driving Subarus since I was 18. Someone told me about the appeal online and I thought straight away – I would do it.”
Kieran’s mother Mary Johnston went online to post her own gratitude for the support the family has received, saying: “Thank you so much everyone for your kindness – my precious little boy will have the send-off he deserves.”
Police have said they believed Kieran may have been riding his scooter when he was struck by a Renault Master van on the evening of April 7. Floral tributes and toys have been left at the scene of the accident as the entire community rallied around the family.