Reward offered after yobs set fire to snack van

Mar 27 2008 Report by Gary Fanning

A BUSINESSWOMAN mourning the death of her best friend’s son faced further heartache — after sick vandals deliberately torched her £15,000 snack van.

Devastated May Mackie, of Whitehill Road, Hamilton, has been off work ever since the death of 15-year-old Nicholas Connolly on February 27.

Now the 49-year-old is offering a substantial reward to anyone who can help catch the people behind Saturday’s fire attack.

The snack van was kept in Drive’s Motor Garage, Main Street, Blantyre, and the vandals struck there about midnight.

They climbed an eight-foot-high fence before setting fire to the vehicle.

All that remains after the blaze is the shell of the snack van.

Customers haven’t been able to use the snack van since February 27.

Following Nicholas’s death, a sign had been placed on the van letting regulars know that it was closed due to a bereavement.

May gave up her work to comfort Nicholas’ mum Marion who helped out at the snack van.

Nicholas, a fourth-year pupil at Hamilton Grammar, died at Hairmyres Hospital last month.

The teenager was taken there after he was found by two police officers in the Woodhead area.

May, who has owned the snack van for the past four years, said: “It is really devastating, especially since the snack van has been closed since Nicholas’ death.

“I haven’t been able to work since the tragedy and everyone knew that was the reason the snack van was closed.

“It is disgraceful that anyone could do this. Someone must know who did it.

“I will put up a substantial reward for anyone who can give me information to catch those responsible.

“A lot of people from the factories and works nearby in the industrial used the snack van.”

The Fire Service are probing the cause of the blaze.

Police are treating the incident as wilful fireraising and appealed for witnesses.

Anyone with information on the incident should contact Hamilton Police Office on 483300.

GUTTED: May is offering a substantial reward to anyone who can help find the people responsible for setting fire to her snack van.