A schoolboy who was stabbed to death at a Glasgow train station has been remembered as 'full of life' by his devastated family.
Justin McLaughlin was only 14 when he died from a single stab wound to the heart at High Street Station in October 2021.
Daniel Haig, 18, was found guilty of his murder at the High Court in Glasgow last week.
Justin's family has now spoken out about their fears of another child losing their life if something isn't done to tackle the rise of youth violence, reports the Daily Record.
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Auntie Maggie McLaughlin said: “Our whole family is heartbroken. There are no words to describe how horrendous the last two years have been.
“It’s very hard to accept that we will never see Justin again.
“He was the wee character of our family and so full of life. Although we got justice for our blue-eyed boy, it’s never going to bring him back.
“Justin’s killer also wasted his own life, his parent’s lives, and our lives on youth violence - and he’s only 18.”
Justin had travelled into Glasgow with pals on the day of his murder. He had returned to the station where Haig - who he had never met before - was waiting with a friend.
A remark was shouted towards the pair about the area in Glasgow they were from and Haig, who was armed with a knife, ran at the group and a fight broke out.
Justin tripped and fell before Haig caught up and plunged the knife into his heart. The dying schoolboy begged for his mum as he lay bleeding while Haig ran from the scene and tossed the bloodied knife in a bin.
Haig faces a life sentence when he returns to the dock in August.
Justin was a pupil at St Ambrose High School in Coatbridge and was preparing to sit his exams. The teen enjoyed playing football and had hoped to one day become a mechanic.
Maggie believes if more safe spaces were available to give young people places to take part in activities Justin’s death could have been avoided.
She said: “After Justin went to high school he wanted to hang about with his pals more, just like most kids.
“If there was a safe place for him to go, he wouldn’t have been out on the streets and his death could have been avoided.
“Teenagers have nowhere to go and are roaming the streets. We need safe spaces where they can socialise, and groups in the community where they can learn about the consequences of violent crime.
“Youth violence is becoming extreme. I’m worried another child will die if something isn’t done now to tackle the issue.
“Victims and perpetrators are getting younger and younger.
“Justin had his whole life ahead of him and it was taken away in one single moment.
“He was only 14 and on his way home from McDonald’s with his pals.
“The Scottish Government needs to do more in the way of intervention and prevention in the community to get young kids away from roaming the streets and becoming involved in violent crime.”
The McLaughlin family are now planning to set up a charity in Justin’s name in a bid to educate teens on the dangers of knife crime.
Maggie added: “It’s been going on for too long now in Scotland and something needs to be done.
“We want youths to choose a life and not a knife. As a family, we don’t think enough is being done in the way of educating kids about knife crime and the devastating consequences it can have for everyone.
“We want kids to learn about the dangers of carrying a blade and know it’s not worth it.”
Police Scotland’s Detective Chief Inspector Brian Geddes said: “This was a shocking loss of a young life which has left a family devastated.
“Violence like this has no place in our society and we will continue to work closely with our partners to bring perpetrators to justice.”
