The Tragic Stephen Mckerron Story.

As we grow older our memories become more distant and fade. Resulting in us piecing together the story of our lives by recalling the people and places involved around significant events that took place. Particularly during our childhood years! It is these memories that shape us into the adults we are today. 

When I was 10 years old and a pupil at St.Peter’s RC Primary in the Laighstonehall area of Hamilton a very scary thing happened.  Ominous news broke that a wee Hamilton boy had gone missing from the care of his aunty and uncle whilst on holiday at Butlins Wonderwest Complex in Ayr.  His disappearance sparked the largest mass scale search ever seen in Scotland.  Organised groups of adults from our local areas travelled to Ayrshire to aid the police in their search.  It is a tragic event that will forever burn in the hearts and minds of the boy’s family, local townsfolk  and the nation alike.

The wee boy was Stephen McKerron, he was only 5 years old and from Donald Terrace in the Fairhill area of Hamilton.  He was supposed to be on a week’s holiday with his aunty and uncle but within half an hour of arriving at the 110 acre complex he was reported “Missing!”  It was the 17th September 1988 (just over 30 years ago).  His father said he was wearing a tracksuit and training shoes.  Although there were initial concerns that Stephen may have been abducted, they were offset by a key witness who stated she saw him climb the six and a half ft parameter fence around the complex.  

Search parameters were established by the holiday complex management and police.  The public, police and royal navy (who provided the search helicopter with infrared sensors) conducted their mass scale search.  15 days had passed and the nation feared the worst! Until,  Sadly,  Lady MacLehose, 68, From Beoch, Maybole was walking her dog on the Carrick Hills on Sunday October 2nd and found Stephen’s body curled up in a ditch.  He was approximately 3 and a half miles from the holiday complex.  Lady MacLehose then returned home to call the police.

Later the post-mortem revealed that Stephen had died due to exposure. And, at a later date during the inquest it was decided that strangulation could not be ruled out,  Due to lack of tissue on the partly decomposed body.  All the pathologist could say was that “There were no ligature marks on the back of the neck”.

Police spoke of witnesses having seen Stephen by the side of the Coast Road which runs by the complex.

Eyewitness Mr Stuart Reid, 51, a Video Dealer. Saw Stephen walking along the road hand-in-hand with a man.  Mr Reid said the man was warmly clad and the child was wearing only a t-shirt, this “Struck him as strange!”. Mr Reid said he only saw the profile of the boy and said it could have been him whilst he was provided with a photo of Stephen at the Court inquest.

The second eyewitness Mr Bryan Wilcox, 24, from Ayrshire who was a Domestic appliance Engineer said; ” He saw a man and a boy as he drove that night on a single-track road which cuts across the Carrick Hills (where Stephen was found). It was getting dark, they were walking side by side”. “I think they were holding hands,  they looked as if they were out for a walk.” The man was wearing a wax jacket and the boy was indistinct.

20 year old Butlins Barmaid Ms Jaqueline Hepburn, from Glenrothes, Fyfe was the third eyewitness.  She said she saw a man and a boy, who was crying at the complex. She heard the man say; Don’t worry, Your mother would not have gone and left you.  I am going to look after you” She also said the man was holding the boys hand.  He lifted him up and the boy was hitting him and screaming.  The boy was crying as the man carried him off.

Another unidentified eyewitness said they were sure that Stephen was alone when he left Wonderwest.

The last eyewitness Mrs Margaret Park, 54, from Fourth Avenue, Millerston, Glasgow was on holiday at the complex with her family. Their caravan was located beside the parameter fence. She saw a youngster walk past and he stopped and looked directly in.  She sent her grandson Jonathan to find out what the boy was doing. He told her the boy had climbed out of the complex over the fence. He showed her where and she could see a sag in the fence there. Jonathan had spoken to the youngster as he sat on top of the fence and asked if he was lost. The boy said no.  Mrs park had identified the boy as Stephen.

In hindsight when we look back at this case as well as the recent Madelaine McCann story and countless others,  we criticise and question the people involved in the incident, search and inquiry. How was the search dealt with? Was the inquiry the final answer and truth? And, How could a tragedy like this happen in the first place? We don’t know whether Stephen was abducted, taken miles away only to be abandoned to survive for himself.  Or, if in fact was running away because he was homesick and missing his mum and dad and thought in his own mind that he could find his way home to them and tragically he succumbed to the elements…….

We should always teach children about the importance of not talking to strangers and that not all people who approach them can look or act bad and strange.  Educate them about the different ways kidnappers might approach them and try to gain their trust. And most importantly that, They should never run-away! Even if it is for a short time. As this will put them at a greater risk of being taken against their will. That they should always stay around the people who love them and can protect them!

May

Stephen McKerron

Rest In Peace.

Written by

Hamilton Historian.

Terence (Terry) Murphy.

Ref; Daily Record Newspaper, 20th May 2012,  Herald Newspaper, 28th March & 29th March 1989.