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Couple who never spent a day apart in 40 years die within hours of each other

Davy Scott and Elizabeth McCartan died on Friday within hours of each other
Davy Scott and Elizabeth McCartan died on Friday within hours of each other Davy Scott and Elizabeth McCartan died on Friday within hours of each other

A COUPLE who had never spent a day apart in more than 40 years and died within hours of each other will be laid to rest together, their family have said.

Elizabeth McCartan from south Belfast’s lower Ormeau and her partner Davy Scott, originally from Sandy Row, died on Friday, having both suffered health problems.

Ms McCartan’s mother was the celebrated peace campaigner Joyce McCartan, who presented Hillary Clinton with a teapot during the 1995 US presidential visit to Belfast. Joyce McCartan, whose teenage son Gary was murdered by the UVF in the family’s Ormeau Road home in May 1987, died months after the Clintons’ visit.

Elizabeth McCartan (58) died at home in Edinburgh Street in the Lisburn Road area on Friday. Her family say she was devastated that Davy had been rushed to hospital with a heart condition, parting them for the first time since they met at a dance in the 1970s.

Rosario McCartan said her sister and her partner were “devoted” to each other and their two dogs, who will be rehomed with a relative.

“They were never apart, with the kindest souls and biggest hearts,” she said.

“Their house is full of Christmas presents, all wrapped for all the family. 

“When I went to look for clothes for Elizabeth I realised she’d given most of them away. She had been worried about the Roma families in her street not having anything and gave them all her clothes. That’s just how she was, always thinking of others. 

“They were inseparable. They would visit me every day. 

“They just wanted to be together. They will be waked side by side and buried together. That’s what they would have wanted. They were never apart in life so they’ll be together now in death.

“When Elizabeth died, Davy was already unconscious and honestly we just didn’t know how we were going to tell him when woke up. In the end we didn’t have to. I suppose that’s how it was meant to be.

Elizabeth’s mother Joyce McCartan in her Ormeau Road cafe in November 1995 with with the then US first lady, Hillary Clinton
Elizabeth’s mother Joyce McCartan in her Ormeau Road cafe in November 1995 with with the then US first lady, Hillary Clinton Elizabeth’s mother Joyce McCartan in her Ormeau Road cafe in November 1995 with with the then US first lady, Hillary Clinton

“It is so sad to be having a funeral at this time of year but it gives us all comfort that they are together, because that’s how they would have wanted it.”