Liam Mackay tragedy 'will have a devastating impact on close-knit Dunnet community'

Liam Mackay's death in a crash on the A836 will have a "devastating" impact on the close-knit Dunnet community, a local Highland councillor has said.

The 21-year-old sustained serious injuries when his motorcycle was involved in a collision with a car on the Castletown/Dunnet road on Friday morning and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Three days later, police confirmed that a visiting motorcyclist involved in a separate accident near Castletown earlier this month had died of his injuries. He was Adrian Placzek, from Worthing in West Sussex, who had been touring the North Coast 500.

Liam, from Dunnet, worked as a mechanical technician at the Vulcan site.

Councillor Ron Gunn, who represents Thurso and Northwest Caithness on Highland Council, said the two tragedies served as a reminder that motorcyclists can be very vulnerable in any type of collision.

"My thoughts and condolences are with Liam's family and friends at this very difficult time," Councillor Gunn said. "This tragedy will have a devastating effect on a close-knit community like Dunnet.

"Fatal road accidents are always tragedies but when young lives are involved they are even worse. Liam was very well liked in the community and had so much to offer in his life ahead.

"There have been several accidents in this area recently and Police Scotland has given an update that the motorcyclist who was involved in another crash outside Castletown has sadly died.

"Motorcyclists can be very vulnerable in any form of collision and once police have completed their crash investigations we might be able to learn something from their enquiries that could prevent further tragedies."

Liam was a former player with Dunnet-based football club Pentland United, whose Highland Amateur Cup match against Lairg Rovers on Saturday was switched to Castletown.

A minute's silence was observed before kick-off by both teams along with match officials and a large crowd of spectators.

Pentland United co-manager Michael Gray described Liam as "a real diamond of a guy".

Speaking immediately after the match, Michael said: “It is obviously quite an emotionally charged day. Liam was a former player, a local lad and a really good guy.

“It's an absolute tragedy for his family, the village and everybody that knew him.

“He had so much to live for. He was maturing into a very fine young man.

“He liked a laugh and a joke, but from his career point of view he was so mature in his thinking, and how he was going to do things, and his commitment."

Michael visited Liam's family on Friday along with Martin Nicolson, another member of the Pentland United management team.

“It was heartbreaking when we went round to see the family," Michael said. "There is no way we could have this level of crowd going into the village today – it would have been completely inappropriate.

“He played for a few years and he was a real character. We've got fond memories of Liam, but not enough of them.

“He was a real diamond of a guy – you would never hear anybody say a bad word about him.”

The accident involving Liam's motorcycle and a Vauxhall Astra happened around 8am on Friday outside Castletown.

The driver and passenger of the car were checked over by the Scottish Ambulance Service but did not require hospital treatment.

The road was closed while crash investigation work was carried out and reopened around 2.35pm.

Liam's family described him as "a loving son, brother, grandson and friend”.

Sergeant Alasdair MacKay, of Highland and Islands Road Policing Unit, said on Friday: “Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Liam at what is a very difficult time for them and they have asked for privacy while they come to terms with what has happened.

“Our enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances of what happened and we are asking anyone who has information that could help with our crash investigation to get in touch.

“In addition we are asking anyone with dashcam footage that could assist officers to also make contact with us.”

Anyone who can help is asked to call Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident number 0638 of June 24.

Adrian Placzek was travelling on the A836 on the afternoon of June 14 when his motorcycle was involved in a collision with a Skoda Karoq car at Quarryside, Castletown.

He was initially taken to Caithness General Hospital, then transferred to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, but police confirmed on Monday that he had died of his injuries on June 22.

The family of the 59-year-old said he was a "keen motorcycle enthusiast" who had been enjoying a motorcycling holiday with friends when the accident happened. They said he bravely fought critical injuries for a week in intensive care before he died.

They described him as "a devoted father to two young children, and his partner Linda" and said he would "always be remembered fondly by the family and friends he leaves behind".

Sergeant Ewan Calder, of Highland and Islands Road Policing, said: “We are continuing with enquiries to establish the full circumstances of this incident, and our sympathies are very much with Adrian's family at this distressing time.

“We would urge anyone who may have witnessed the crash, or who may have dashcam footage that could help our investigation, to please get in touch."

Officers can be contacted via 101, quoting reference 2072 of June 14.

Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.