REBECCA ADORED HER BIG BROTHER.. NOW SHE WILL NEVER SEE HIM AGAIN

Family's Grief As Scott, 20, Dies After Taking Ecstasy

THE brother of ecstasy death boy Scott McSephney told last night how
he struggled to explain the tragedy to his 11-year-old sister.

Adam McSephney said: "I tried to tell Rebecca how her brother had died
after taking drugs, but it's too much for a young girl to take in.

"She was completely baffled by the whole thing and couldn't
understand.

"It was the worst thing I have had to do in my whole
life.

"Scott dotedon Rebecca. Hethought the world of her.

"I think Rebecca, and my mum, and maybe even myself, still expect
Scott to walk through the door.

"It is just so unbelievable." Scott, 20, died early yesterday after
taking ecstasy and drinking pints of cider at a Sunday night party in
his home town of Dalmellington, Ayrshire.

Five of his friends and fellow guests were taken to Ayr Hospital
suffering from the effects of the drug.

Sources said one 20-year-old lad was fighting for life last night
after allegedly taking TWELVE ecstasy tablets.

Police are looking into the theory that a contaminated batch of
ecstasy was to blame.

Aspokesmansaid: "Webelievethere is a dodgy batch which was taken at the
party. We are appealing for help in tracing where these pills may have come
from."

Royal Navy submariner Adam, 22, said he had been looking forward to
enjoying Hogmanay with Scott.

The last time he saw him, he hugged him and said: "I'll see you at the
Bells."

Adam wept: "Hogmanay was always a big thing in our
family.

"It is quite a small family, but we are very, very close. We would all
get together for a party and we looked forward to it all year."

Adam was at his base at Faslane when he heard that Scott had been
taken to hospital.

He got friends to drive him home, and the family planned to go to
hospital together.

But Scott's grandad, David McSephney, was already at the hospital.
Andhe rang the family early yesterday with the news that Scott was
dead.

Adam said: "We were all in a terrible state whenourpapaphoned to tell
us.

"My mum is just in bits. She is obviously devastated.

"My dad hasn't been on the scene for a long time, so I had to
takeonthe responsibility of telling Rebecca. It was
heartbreaking."

Scott, nicknamed "Seph", was a swimming pool lifeguard at the Haven
holiday camp in Ayr.

He had been at the former Butlins camp for twoyears. Hisfamilysayhe
kept himself very fit and healthy.

Scott was in love with local girl Emma Cuthbert, also 20. They had
been together for more than ayear, and he was planning to ask her to
marry him in the New Year.

With the Haven holiday season over, Scott was looking for a part-time
job at the local swimming baths. And he was using his spare time to
fix up an old Vauxhall Astra with his brother.

As well as tinkering with cars, Scott loved swimming, football,
fishing and camping with friends.

Adam said: "Scott was quite a shy lad. But he enjoyed his drink with
his mates and he was Mr Popular, everybody loved him.

"It sounds like a cliche to say this, but my brother has never been
involved in drugs.

"I believe that this was a one-off. "It may just have been badjudgment
on Scott's part that he took ecstasy and maybe he was just one of the
unlucky ones.

"Scott may have been persuaded by his pals to take something but it
wouldn't be like him.

"I just hope that people in this village and throughout the country
will learn lessons from this.

"If it stops other kids dying, then maybe some good can come out of
Scott's death."

Adam faces the further ordeal of going to hospital to formally
identify his brother's body. The family have not had the chance to
plan a funeral.

Scott's childhoodpal John Stevenson, an apprentice electrician, was
still seriously ill in hospital last night after allegedly taking upto
12 ecstasy tablets at the party. John's brother Alan, 21: "Scott and
Alan have known each other for a long, long time.

"This has come as a real shock to us all. John has never been involved
in drugs before.

"I was out for a meal with my girlfriend and didn't go to the
party.

"I know the boys went to a lot of parties between Christmas and New
Year, but I didn't realise there were any drugs involved."

John's dad, John senior, said he hoped the dealers who supplied the
drugs would be caught. But he added: "There is a wall of silence in
this place."

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FACT FILE: 500,000 TAKE RISK OF E EVERY WEEK

ECSTASY is popular among clubbers across the UK, with an estimated
500,000 people taking it every weekend.

Most people take the Class A drug thinking it will give them more
energy and make them feel happier.

The amphetamine-based drug has strong hallucinogenic properties and
has a range of short and long-term side effects including depression,
paranoia, liver problems, heatstroke and epilepsy.

Experts have continued to warn people against the addictive and
potentially fatal drug since its use became widespread in the 1990s.

They say that, because the drug has so many side effects, it can hit
individuals differently.

The Department of Health say the main problem with ecstasy is that
tablets are rarely pure.

Dealers save money by mixing it with amphetamine, caffeine and even
cleaning substances. These dodgy additions increase the chances of
users suffering internal bleeding.

Drugs which are less pure can also make people more thirsty. Some
users have died from drinking too much water as ecstasy causes the
brain to retain water.

Another problem is that some people take more than one tablet, which
increases the risk of them getting ill.

More than 200 people have died after taking ecstasy in the UK since
1996, according to Home Office figures.

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THE VICTIMS OF A KILLER

Michelle Paul

The 15-year-old from Aberdeen died of liver failure after taking a
half-tablet of ecstasy at a rave in 1995.

Andrew Woodlock

Andrew, 13, was found slumped in a field near his Lanarkshire home six
years ago and died five days later.

Julia Dawes

The fitness instructor from a wealthy Perthshire family died in 1998,
aged 18, after taking E at a friend's party.

Leah Betts

She died in 1995 after her 18th birthday party in Essex. Leah's
deathbed picture was used in a drug campaign.