Family of Tony Parsons killed and buried by drink-driver awarded six-figure pay-out

The family of a cyclist who was killed by a drink-driver who then hid his body to cover up the crime has been awarded a six-figure compensation pay-out.

Tony Parsons was hit by Alexander McKellar on the A82 near Bridge of Orchy, Argyll and Bute, on September 29, 2017.

McKellar then teamed up with his twin brother Robert to hide Mr Parsons’ body, which included burying the 63-year-old ex-navy officer in nearby woods. Both men were jailed in 2023.

Solicitors acting on behalf of Mr Parson’s family have agreed a six-figure settlement with McKellar’s car insurer.

The settlement came the day before a trial was due to begin at the Court of Session.

Gordon Dalyell, partner at Digby Brown Solicitors, said: “I can confirm the civil action for the Parsons family has now concluded.

“The manner of Tony’s death and what happened subsequently was appalling and the pain of his loss understandably continues to cause huge distress to his loved ones.

“While compensation does not, in any way, heal the pain, it does help protect the futures of his relatives.

“I commend the strength of the Parsons family throughout this whole period as they try to move on with their lives.”

Disappearance

Father-of-two Mr Parsons vanished after he set off from Fort William on a 100-mile cycle journey in aid of prostate cancer in September 2017.

His disappearance was treated as a missing persons enquiry while police launched several nationwide high-profile appeals.

Alexander admitted driving on the A82 at “excess speed and when unfit through alcohol”. His Isuzu D-Max pick-up hit Mr Parsons, who was cycling at the time.

With “reckless disregard” for his actions, he left Mr Parsons by the side of the road “in a remote location during the hours of darkness and in inclement weather”, causing his death.

Both brothers admitted leaving the site where Mr Parsons had been struck and returning in another vehicle, into which they placed the cyclist along with his bicycle and other belongings.

They moved him to woods in the Auch Estate, before then moving his body to another location which was used to dispose of dead animals.

There, they dug a grave and buried him, as well as disposing of his belongings.

The twins were arrested following the admission made by Alexander McKellar to his former girlfriend in November 2020.

She then alerted police and later marked the location of the grave with a Red Bull can, which led officers and forensic experts to identify Mr Parsons’ remains.