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Tributes have poured in for Paddy Higgins, pictured centre with his pals in Newquay hours before he died
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Paddy Higgins' family call for Newquay boycott

By Alice Murphy
July 10, 2009

The family of tragic teenager Paddy Higgins have launched a campaign to prevent further teenage deaths in Newquay.

Shireen Higgins, the stepmum of 16-year-old Paddy, who died after falling from a cliff at the seaside resort in the early hours of Monday, has launched a campaign with her family to prevent other parents going through such a tragedy.

A page called ‘Boycott Newquay holidays for teenagers’ has been set up on networking site Facebook to raise awareness of the dangers.

Naomi and Tom Barbour, Paddy’s stepbrother and sister, have set up the group, which has already attracted 1,500 supporters.

Meanwhile, friends of the youngster have been paying emotional tributes to their friend.

Gifted Paddy Higgins was a 'fantastic lad'

More than 1,500 devastated pals have filled a memorial page on

Facebook with messages of grief and expressing support for his family.

One tribute said: “You were so caring and happy all the time and will never be forgotten.”

Another said: “Loved and known by everyone. Never be forgotten and always missed. You made a difference to everyone who knew you, I’m just glad I got to know you, you were an amazing person.”

One commented: “The amount of members show how popular this amazing person was.”

The seaside town is feted as a hotspot for post-GCSE and A-level holidays but under-age teenagers are being sold alcohol.

Mrs Higgins said: “We have set up the site to warn other parents about teenagers going unsupervised.

“Newquay markets itself as the teenage party capital but as a family we do not want any other family to have to go through what we are suffering.

“We would like the drinking age ideally to be raised to 21 and have better fencing on the cliffs.

“Until then, we are trying to boycott Newquay.”

She said the cliffs in the town are unfenced, teenagers are encouraged to party hard and the clubs, bars and restaurants sell alcohol without asking teens for ID first.

Mrs Higgins said: “Our children these days want it all and now and have the money to do so, which we didn’t have in our day.

“They should not have access to all the alcohol they have at 16.

“We have evidence that Patrick was able to purchase a round of sambuccas and Corona beer in a restaurant without ID.”

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Most recent user comments 31 of 31

I am so, so sorry for the loss of such a lovely boy. I have an 18 year old who was the unprovoked victim of a dreadful assault 4 years ago, he survived, but the outcome could have been so very different, the ongoing physical effects are extensive and expensive and the mental effects will never go, it will stay with me for the rest of my life and i just can't comprehend what Paddy's family are going through, crying as i write this, but i wish them peace, the knowledge that he will be with God and that one day they will be reunited.

Cati Heward
20/01/2011 at 23:27

Firstly let me say, I honestly feel for your loss - as a parent myself. In my opinion, I feel it is completely and utterly unreasonable to expect the townsfolk of Newquay and all the people who come to this beautiful resort to have to put up with being locked off the beaches after 8pm. This would mean no beach parties, no families ect allowed on the beaches after 8pm for any reason, local surfers restricted from the enjoyment of their YEAR round sport and ugly gates at the top of every beach access, this would only force the more dedicated surfers and partygoers into finding more treacherous routes to the waves/beach. Maybe before a finger is pointed at the town, its authorities and local residents - who you obviously hold accountable for the tragic death of your son. Maybe he shouldn't have been allowed to holiday without adult supervision. Nobody twisted his arm to drink the spirits you have spoken about in your interviews and lets face it this could have happened in any town, unfortunately it happened in our town. I appreciate this must sound callous but we've grown up here and our children too and we've not come to much harm and we're not prepared to standby and watch our town and our livelyhoods take a slating because a lack of common sense. I hope that no tragedy happens in your town, whereby you will experience the negativity that Newquay has been subjected to. My condolences all the same.

steve pendleton
24/07/2009 at 19:22

Firstly, I'd like to pass my condolences on to Paddy's family. I can't for one minute imagine what they are going through right now. But blaming Newquay is not the answer. It's true the cliff edges are not a safe place to be...but most of them, including the area were Paddy's accident happened, are fenced. What needs to be highlighted is underage binge drinking. Accidents can happen anywhere, especially while under the influence of alcohol. And underage drinking is a problem all over the UK not just Newquay. I don't think it's fair to boycott Newquay, I do however feel that 16 year olds should not be encouraged to come to Newquay on holiday unsupervised.

DM Newquay, Newquay
14/07/2009 at 12:43

Please don't come to Newquay if you cannot behave in a responsible manner. Do the parents of the children that come to party here really believe that their sons and daughters wont drink and will behave in an adult way? This is a good town and we will make you welcome if you want to come here and party or holiday in a manner that doesn't offend others, if not then stay away and party in your home town. John J. Newquay

johnj
13/07/2009 at 19:59

It's about time that premises selling alcohol illegally had their licences removed permanently.

I Ron
13/07/2009 at 16:30

I feel sorry for the residents of Newquay, it must be a nightmare to live there. I would support a boycott by the drunken children who make life a misery for others. The parents and the children must accept responsibility for their actions- don't blame what was a beautiful holiday destination

devonlife
13/07/2009 at 15:51

Of course I don't think binge drinking is a myth. It is only a very small percentage of drinkers who do binge drink - mainly young people. Maybe you think responsible drinking is a myth?

Hugh Janus, Reading
13/07/2009 at 13:39

Marcella. If you don't like the UK try Saudi Arabia.

I Ron
13/07/2009 at 13:05

You just need to go to the town centre in the evening or even Oxford Road during the daytime to see that large sections of society are unable to drink responsibly. Do you think that binge drinking is some kind of myth?

Marcella, Reading
13/07/2009 at 13:02

Marcella - what a load of old nonsense! Do you really think that if we all stopped drinking that there would never be an accident ever again?

There is absolutely nothing wrong with drinking responsibly like most people do. Besides, it could have easily been an adult that this happened to and (as someone else on here said) if he had been just two years older this debate wouldn't even be taking place. Religion has nothing to do with it.

Hugh Janus, Reading
13/07/2009 at 11:50

A sad story and i do feel for the parents but this blame culture ......... Paddy was 16 and still a boy he could get booze in Reading and did as other youths do the country over and its not just Newquay. At 16 he was still the responsibity of his parents not waiters!!!!!! a accident that could happen anywhere ..... RIP PADDY

Cornish warrior, Cornwall
13/07/2009 at 08:23

Imagine how many less tragedies there would be if we followed the islamic line and didn't drink alcohol full stop. Just forget your racist comments and snide remarks about islam for a minute and think about how much better society would be. A death like this would not have occured and I know that a hell of a lot more children would grow up in stable families and at least know who their father are.

Marcella, Reading
13/07/2009 at 07:34

This is a terrible tragedy and my heart goes out to the parents. I too am a mother and can't even begin to imagine the devastation this must have caused. However, reading all the comments on the news reports about campaigns to put up even more fences and signs on the cliff tops of Newquay makes me wonder how I ever survived growing up in the town. In all my 40 years of living in Newquay, from school years to adulthood, I have never heard of anyone accidently falling off the cliff. Yes, in more recent years there has been tragic incidents, some intentional but living here we were taught to understand the dangers of the cliffs and the sea. The sad thing is, these incidents will probably continue to happen, fences or no fences, whilst the age of teenagers holidaying without supervision gets lower and lower. It used to be university students, now it is children aged 15 and 16. Even if young teenagers could not get served, they would get hold of alcohol somehow. I cannot speak for the town but I know a lot of people who would welcome a boycott of the town by the youngsters unless maybe they were holidaying with their parents. At the end of the day, if children are given the responsibility of holidaying on their own then these children must also take on the responsibility of their own actions.

BET, Newquay
11/07/2009 at 22:12

What a sad and useless lose of a young life. But when I was 16 years old, I wasn't a young man, I was a schoolboy and although I did drink then, the idea of travelling to Cornwall to go on a "bender wouldn't have crossed my mind... Two reasons : I couldn't have financed it myself, and my parents wouldn't have even entertained the idea

No use in pointing fingers now, and teenagers have and will push the boundries to the limit. Perhaps its our job as adults and parents to make sure they know just how far they can go and to take on our role of responsabily

TIM HILLS
11/07/2009 at 13:36

The reason many people come to Cornwall is to see the beautiful coastline, which would be a lot less beautiful with fencing all around, and who's going to pay for it? Many of us manage to walk on coastal cliff paths every day without problems.

The other reason many of the younger element come to Cornwall, particularly Newquay, is the drinking culture.

Don't come here for the attractions and then blame them for other's misfortunes.

S Medway
10/07/2009 at 19:02

This is a truly sad and tragic story. But you can't blame the bar or the place. Firstly, you have to accept that the majority of kids out celebrating in a group will drink. The advice I give to my three, all of whom have done the Newquay experience, is to alternate every glass of alcohol with a glass of water. Just that simple tip cuts down what they could consume by 50%.

It's important to emphasise, how too much drink will affect decisions... important as I have two girls. Communication is also key when they are away from home. Even now my kids (eldest daughter is 24) will ring me on her way out and when she is returning home... without fail.

I also think that sometimes parents should say 'no' goodness knows I have done so, and still do so, many times.

Yes, hindsight is a wonderful thing and nothing will bring Paddy back...RIP and sincerest condolences to his family.

Carmen from Katesgrove, Reading
10/07/2009 at 18:14

‘Boycott Newquay holidays for teenagers’: why? It's got nothing to do with Newquay but more with excessive drinking... Probably should seal off the whole UK coastline then...

ironix
10/07/2009 at 13:51

Many years ago :-( I was in Utopia when I was 16, and I've still turned out alright. All my friends at the time were the same, you just cannot stop that side of things we were just looking to have fun.

If the kid had been 18 this could still have happened and there would not be any argument about underage drinking - what difference would that extra two years have made?

It seems only common sense that you should not be able to easily come out of a bar and fall of the edge of a cliff, whatever age you are, and so fencing should be improved.

I agree with the campaign objectives that, to get the town to improve it's safety, a boycott which affects the revenues of those companies that benefit from these activities would give those improvements a push. It also highlights to others the dangers which they migh not otherwise be aware of, and they can decide for themselves how to proceed.

JE, Reading
10/07/2009 at 13:09

It is, as has been said so many times, a devastatingly sad time for the family of this young man whose life should just be beginning. My deepest sympathies go to his family and friends.

If I were in that situation I would want to have someone to blame, it is human nature. There is always an "if only". Teenagers will be teenagers and we hope that we have taught them the values that they need in life along with letting them know the dangers without wrapping them in cotton wool.

I agree that the bars should be stricter on checking ages, but then if they didn't get served there I am sure that they would acquire alcohol some other way.

It honestly scares me the way teenagers behave sometimes.

We cannot ban or boycott everything that causes an unfortunate incident like this. What we can do is learn by it and teach our children by it. It is our responsibility to educate our children about these things and hope above all else that they heed what we say and hopefully they will live to realise why we tell them these things.

There will inevitably be accidents no matter how good the parenting is, all we can do is try our best.

Happy Alien
10/07/2009 at 12:37

The thing is, although the bars should have been more responsible with who they served (and I do hope they track down and punish those who did serve this lad), I was watching a report on the news about teenage drinkers in Newquay and it seems most of them are all in campsites and bring their alchohol down to Newquay with them. So even if he hadn't have been served there is a good chance he might have got it elsewhere. Putting up a few fences alone will not solve this problem which is a nationwide problem, not just in Newquay.

Hugh Janus, Reading
10/07/2009 at 12:22

This blame culture has to stop, everyone should take responsibility for their own actions whether they be right or wrong.It seems to me there are a lot of people involved in this tragic story that made bad choices on reflection, as they say hindsight is a wonderful thing.

pebbles, Reading
10/07/2009 at 11:54

I understand that it is the responsibility of door staff to verify peoples ages and request ID - so how come a 16 year old was allowed in? Woodley Lad - i only said 'maybe' the age limit be changed, I think a lot of thought would have to go into it first as I accept that that alone would not solve the issue of teenage binge drinking. I would imagine that going 'back to basics' is a starting point, educating from a young age about the dangers of binge drinking and sustaining that education throughout school.

MW
10/07/2009 at 11:53

This is a terribly sad story. The lad seems to have been a nice guy.

We've all been 16, we've all pushed the age limit and there but for the grace of god and all that...

Millicent Reeves, Twyford
10/07/2009 at 11:33

What are you on about ‘blaming the bars is unfair’?

I’ve seen some stupid comments on this message board but that statement, relating to this story, is stupid beyond belief.

Bushes Bernal, Reading
10/07/2009 at 11:28

MW, it wouldn't matter if they ranged the age for drinking, he was already under the age and yet was still consuming alcohol in bars. Sure the bars should have been stricter with the age checks, but then he should have known it was wrong to be in there drinking too. I have great sympathy for the family and it is a tragedy, but blaming the bars is unfair. If they hadn't been able to get in the bars they'd have just acquired the alcohol from somewhere else.

Woodley Lad, Woodley
10/07/2009 at 11:14

I am terribly sad for the family and his friends, you cannot imagine how they are feeling. School Kids will be school kids where ever they are if there is no adult to guide them surely? Good will come out of this and be a stark warning to other people and children alike, I do hope so, but what a terrible price to pay.

pebbles, Reading
10/07/2009 at 11:13

I have immense sympathy for the family, but calls to fence every potentially dangerous natural feature would simply devastate the countryside. As a mountain biker I've frequently ridden in some very hair-raising places, but the great outdoors is best when it's unspoilt. We can't stop every risk... imagine the Grand Canyon or the White Cliffs of Dover walled off with high fences.

ormy
10/07/2009 at 09:53

I agree with FM, it's a tragic waste of life but even if you erect fences then there is always the possibility of someone climbing over them. I do possibly with Paddy's family that perhaps the alcohol limit could be raised to 21 or even 19 maybe.

MW
10/07/2009 at 09:39

Whilst it's very sad at the loss of this life, instead of trying to boycott Newquay, how about people educate their children better into drinking responsibly and the dangers in standing on the edge of a cliff. Any loss of life is a sad loss but, there are many places to drink, are we going to ban all of them, there are many natural pieces of beauty which are dangerous, should we fence them all in? Vendors should not sell alcolhol to underage persons, but, parents must also be responsible for educating their children.

fm, wokingham
10/07/2009 at 09:05

It's an terrible shame what happened to this guy but could have so easily been avoided if he was drinking responsibly and had stuck with friends. It's a shame that some people's out of control and irresponsible drinking has led to such an awful waste of life. The cliffs in Newquay have signs all over them warning of the dangers but who is going to read them late at night when they are that drunk?

Hugh Janus, Reading
10/07/2009 at 08:49

Whilst this is no doubt a very sad story perhaps the parents would be better employeed launching a group aimed at stopping under age people drinking sambuca and then going up on cliffs.

Sambuca and cliffs do not mix.