WELCOME home SCOTT

Neighbours hung out balloons and banners and cheered and clapped as the 18-year-old arrived by car.

Apart from a short overnight stay last Wednesday night, it has been the first time that Scott affectionately known as the ‘gentle giant’ has come home in 25 weeks.

It was a moment that his mum Helen-Louise had been waitingso long to see.

Scott was badly beaten and left for dead outside a disused furniture store at Laganbank Road in September. The teenager, a student at the South Eastern Regional College in Lisburn where he also attended a job club run by Mencap, went missing on September 4 after a day at college. His mother raised the alarm after he failed to return home.

He was found by a police dog handler around 9pm the next day

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badly beaten up in an unprovoked attack. Police are still trying to establish a motive for the assault on the 6’ 3” tall teenager.

His mother on their Get Well Scott Vineer Facebook page issued a statement, on Monday thanking everyone for their support.

She wrote, “Thanks you everyone. We are desperately looking for justice for our Scott. He has never been in trouble... not even a school detention. But he has certainly not lost his cheeky sense of humour. We are so proud of him and we love him, Darryl and Kurtis so much. They have suffered too and we just want the scum who did this to be caught.”

In another statement last week when Scott returned home for an overnight stay she said, “We are so proud of him. He needs both of us with him to go upstairs to bed so it is only done in wee stages but wow. Paul and I can’t believe how well he is doing. He loves his new bed. Thank you to everyone who donated to his fund as that has paid for his bed.

“He still uses the wheelchair but indoors he is using a rollator walker too with support. His balance is still a worry but he is determined to walk properly. Going up and down stairs is our main worry but he takes it slowly with Paul and I with him. It is amazing how far he has come. We were told that he may not survive but has proved he is a battler and will not give up... just like me!”

One of the neighbours Julie Moore, who organised the welcome home party said that last Friday evening is a day she will never forget.

“He was a little overwhelmed by it all,” said Julie.

“It has been recently an awful time for not only Scott and his family but the whole area as a whole. It has left an awful black shadow over the area. He has been such a character in the street and we all really missed him. It is good to have him home again. Scott was always outside talking to the younger ones out in the street, He has a really good sense of humour. We missed that.

“Scott was always lovely. When the family moved in Scott was the first to make himself known. He has such a lovely personality. It is such an apt description to say that he really is such a gentle giant. He is such a gentle soul.

“We are hoping that we can organise a bit of a party for Scott and his family some time soon. We don’t know when that will be but it will be sometime when he is feeling a bit better.”

Julie who was speaking to Scott briefly on Friday said that he was overwhelmed with the whole party.

“He was a bit embarrassed,” she said. “When he got in to the house he said that he was ok. He did not expect anyone to greet him. He was a bit overwhelmed.

“I have made good friends with his mother through all this which is a good thing that has come out of this. It is pity that it had to take something bad like this for that to happen.

“We wanted to mark Scott’s return home in some way. I don’t think the family were given a lot of time before they were told that Scott could go home for good.”

Julie said that his mother is still keen for people to continue to give information to the police that will help bring the culprits to justice.

“Scott’s family will still continue to fight for justice for Scott and continue to find out why someone did this terrible thing to their son. He is the last person you could take a dislike to, you cannot help but like them. He just melts your heart.”

Julie thanked neighbours Vicky Barns, who made a banner, and Audrey Smilie who put balloons up.

“We want to hold a party not only for Scott but of the entire neighbourhood at some time soon,” said Julie. “The incident left a black shadow over the neighbourhood. Hopefully it can help us move on from that.”