Connery cousin collapsed and died after noise row with teenager

Published on Tuesday 12 February 2008 20:55

A COUSIN of Sir Sean Connery died of a heart attack minutes after confronting a teenager about playing loud music from a car stereo, a court was told yesterday.

James Connery, 68, collapsed and died in the street outside his home after an argument with 18-year-old Scott McMillan.

The father of two was taken to hospital but was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

At Edinburgh Sheriff Court yesterday, McMillan, now 19, admitted a breach of the peace by playing music from his car, refusing to turn the volume down, and shouting and swearing. The court heard Mr Connery had been having dinner with his partner on 1 May last year when they heard loud music coming from a car outside his home in Prestonfield Avenue, Edinburgh.

He went to speak to McMillan about the noise and asked him to turn the volume down.

Gillian More, prosecuting, said McMillan refused and instead turned it up louder. "He told (McMillan] that playing loud music at all hours and driving up and down the street was making everyone's life in the street hell," she said.

Mr Connery, who had had five previous heart attacks, had turned to walk away from McMillan when he collapsed.

Jim Stephenson, defending, said McMillan, who works as a bricklayer's mate, now agreed his behaviour had been "totally unacceptable" and that the music had been far too loud.

McMillan, of Kirkhill Drive, Edinburgh, will be sentenced next month.

Sir Sean's father, Joseph, and Mr Connery's father, James, were brothers.