Crash orphan in train tragedy

Stephen Flannigan (left) at the funeral of his sister

A man whose parents and sister were killed in the Lockerbie disaster has died after being hit by a train while returning from birthday celebrations.

Stephen Flannigan was 14 when flight Pan Am 103 was blown up over the small Scottish town.

His mother and father, Tom and Kathleen, and his sister Joanne died after debris crushed their home in Sherwood Crescent.

Mr Flannigan was fixing a bike at a nearby friend's house at the time of the disaster on 21 December, 1988. He was later given a home by a family in the town.

Mr Flannigan was hit by a works train on Friday, near where he lived in the village of Heywood in Wiltshire.

It is understood he was struck as he made his way home after a night out with friends to mark his 26th birthday on Sunday.

Two Libyans are on trial

He was taken to the Royal United Hospital in Bath with severe injuries, but died on his birthday.

Mr Flannigan moved to Wiltshire from Lockerbie four years ago, but was a frequent visitor to Scotland to see his young son Luke.

His funeral will take place in Lockerbie on Monday.

Tragedy hit the family again several years after the bombing when the oldest son, David - who was not living at home when the plane came down - died after an alleged drink and drugs spree in Thailand.

Eleven people were killed on the ground and 259 perished on board the plane - destined for New York - when it was blown up over Scotland.

Two Libyans have been accused of carrying out the deaths and are currently standing trial at a special court in the Netherlands.

Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi, 48, and Al Amin Khalifa Fhimah, 44, deny any involvement in the disaster.