Tears and tributes as hundreds say farewell to accident victim

HUNDREDS of family and friends of a teenage girl who died after a 4x4 mounted a kerb in Glasgow city centre gathered yesterday for her funeral.

Mhairi Convy, 18, was killed on 17 December along with her friend Laura Stewart.

Ms Convy's parents, Alan and Aileen, were at the head of the 400 mourners who packed Dalnottar Crematorium in Clydebank to pay their respects to the teenager.

Among the mourners was Mark Hopwood, 36, who was also injured when he was struck by the vehicle. He arrived at the crematorium on crutches, with his arm in a sling.

The mourners lined the path to the chapel, before filing in for the funeral service.

The song You Raise Me Up by Westlife was played and mourners sang All Things Bright And Beautiful. Pictures of Ms Convy smiling with her friends and family were printed on the order of service handed to mourners, beside the Mary Elizabeth Fry poem Do Not Stand At My Grave And Weep.

Tearful mourners held hands and hugged each other as they left the crematorium.

Floral tributes were left for the student, including a bouquet of pink roses and carnations from the family of Laura Stewart, 20, who was buried yesterday. The card simply read: "Our thoughts and prayers are with you. From the Stewart family xxx."

Ms Stewart's funeral took place yesterday at Our Lady and St Helen's Parish Church in her hometown of Cumbernauld.

The deaths of the two young students at Glasgow's College of Commerce continue to be investigated by police. They were injured after a Range Rover mounted the pavement on North Hanover Street. They died in Glasgow Royal Infirmary.

The 50-year-old driver of the Range Rover, who was also injured and needed hospital treatment, has been released and has spoken to police.

A Strathclyde Police spokesman said: "The investigation is still ongoing. He has been spoken to, but we are unable to comment further."