They died living their dream1

by Neil Leslie - The Mirror - 5th June 1999

The bodies of two young Irishmen who dreamed of paths of glory far from home were brought back to their grieving families yesterday.

Neil Shanahan, 19, was on track to become a top class driver. But the promise was shattered in a high-speed crash at Britain’s Oulton Park racing circuit.

Billy Kedian’s boyhood ambition was to follow his country’s flag and wear it’s uniform with honour. He died after being stuck by a stray shell while on a peace keeping duty in Lebanon.

A cruel twist of fate meant that they died only hours apart on Monday.

Today Neil will be buried in Dublin with mourners from the world of motorsport grieving a star that never got a chance to rise.

And Billy will have a funeral with full military honours in Mayo where his friends will pay tribute to the fallen comrade.

These pictures of Neil with Grand Prix racing stars show the passion of a young man for the sport he loved. Neil lives to race.

From the tender age of 13 when he first strapped himself into a go-kart he was hooked on a dream. He dreamed of one day standing on a Formula One podium alongside his idols like Damon Hill, Eddie Irvine and Jean Alesi.

It was a dream he was close to fulfilling after rocketing up the motor sport ranks.

But on Monday the dream ended in tragedy when Neil’s car smashed into barriers at Oulton Park.

“Racing was all he ever wanted,” his father Liam said last night. “We both knew what the risks were, but there are risks in everything. If you cross the road now you take a risk. What happened was a million to one chance. We’re still waiting for the investigation but it looks like the steering wheel did not come off cleanly when Neil hit the barrier and the bar came back and hit him in the chest. What should happen is that the wheel comes right off. It was a freak accident.”

Liam witnessed the horrific accident that claimed his son’s life, as he had witnessed every single race he drove from karting level through junior and senior motor racing and on to the Formula Ford series he was driving in when the accident happened.

Next year he had his sights on Formula 3, and after that Formula 1 beckoned.

Despite his passion for the sport. Neil never travelled to see a big Grand Prix for himself. His father recalled: “We never went because I used to say to him that we would go when he was driving in one himself. We always thought he would make it. He won everything in Ireland that there was to win and he was doing well in Formula Ford this season. He was a natural in a car and Formula 1 was his goal. He went to England to get on and progress and was doing well”

“He loved the sport and he mad met the drivers, people like Damon Hill and Jean Alesi. It was so unfortunate what happened.”

Neil was buried in Dublin today. The circumstances surrounding the fatal crash are now under investigation. Officials say three cars were involved in the accident at the Clay Hill bend of Oulton Park.

Over 30,000 people at the Bank Holiday race meeting watched in horror as Neil failed to walk away from the wreckage of his car.

He was treated at the scene by three medics including Dr Paul Trafford. he said: “He was taken from there straight to hospital. He had massive injuries which weren’t compatible with survival. His injuries were too great.”

In a statement, championship sponsor Ford said: “On Monday 31st May at 13.20 hours during the Formula Ford Championship Race at Oulton Park there was an accident on track at Clay Hill, which involved Neil Shanahan. Medical officers where called immediately to the scene where it was discovered that Neil had suffered a massive trauma which resulted in a cardiac arrest. He was resuscitated at the scene and immediately airlifted to the Countess of Chester Hospital, but tragically died before arriving. The cause of the accident and subsequent injury has yet to be established. This was a deeply tragic incident and our thoughts are obviously with Neil’s family, friends and team at this moment. We would like to thank the medical staff and emergency services for all their efforts.”

The accident came just a day after a track marshall was injured when British touring car driver landed in a spectator enclosure. A spokeswoman for Brands Hatch Leisure Group which runs Oulton Park defended the venue’s safety record.

She said: “This circuit is fully compliant with all the safety criteria laid down in the terms of our license.”

But many racing drivers have been calling for improved safety measures.

Tragic Peacekeeper Brought Home

The peacekeeper whose dream of being a solider cost him his life made his way home yesterday. Private Billy Kedian died on Monday when an Israeli mortar shell slammed into a observation post in Lebanon.

The 22-year-old’s remains were flown home by the defence forces and arrived at a rain-lashed Knock airport, close to his home in Ballyhaunis, Co. Mayo.

His parents Billy and Doris wept openly as they brought their son’s coffin home. They were comforted by daughters’ Ann and Mary and grieving locals who braved the downpour to welcome home a hero who paid the ultimate price for peace.

Senior army personnel, including Brigadier General John Martin, GOC of the 4th Western Brigade, met the tricolour-draped coffin off the military flight from the Middle East.

The coffin was accompanied on the five-hour journey by Defence Forces Captain Eoghan O’Neachtain.

And despite a violent hailstorm that swept across the airport tarmac, Private Kedian’s comrades stood tall to honour the fallen hero.

A priest prayed over the solider’s remains while comrades formed a guard of honour. His body was then removed to St Patrick’s Parish Church in Ballyhaunis, where thousands turned out to pay their respects.

President Mary McAleese, Defence Minister Michael Smith and Defence Forces Chief of Staff Lieutenant General David Stapleton will attend Private Kedian’s funeral today.

Private Kedian was on his second tour of duty with the UN in the Middle East when his post took a direct hit.