Tributes pour in for tragic Irvine man killed in bus horror

Feb 5 2010 by Eric McGowan, Irvine Herald

THE HEARTBROKEN family of a man run over and killed by a minibus in Irvine on Sunday said they’d lost “the best son and brother anyone could ask for.”

Tragic Jamie Boyle, 21, was crushed to death after he fell into the path of the vehicle at the Cross just after two in the morning.

He had just left Viva nightclub – above the Kings Arms Hotel – after a night partying with friends.

Jamie, a call centre worker who lived in Livingstone Terrace with parents Helen and Gordon and brother William, was pronounced dead at the scene.

His girlfriend of two-and-a-half years, Emma, 21, was this week staying with the family as they struggle to come to terms with his death.

Speaking at the family home on Monday, William, 23, said Rangers fan Jamie – a former pupil of Irvine Royal Academy – was the “best brother a boy could have.”

Fighting back tears he added: “We just can’t take this in. The whole family is absolutely devastated.

“Jamie was my best pal – he loved his partying and football just like me – he was some boy.”

“He’d come and watch me play football and shout abuse at me the whole game – but there was no badness in it, he just loved having a laugh.

“He thought stealing my socks was particularly funny.”

Tearful mum Helen, 44, said she’d lost one half of her “Siamese twins.”

She added: “Jamie and William were so close I called them my Siamese twins – they were always doing things together.

“Jamie was well known in Irvine and he loved going out with his pals – they’re all distraught he’s gone.”

Dozens of floral tributes and cards have been laid and tied to a tree next to the scene of the incident.

Police, who are still appealing for witnesses to come forward, said the 63-year-old male driver of the bus, was uninjured but badly shaken by the incident. A report will be prepared for the procurator fiscal.