TRIBUTES were paid to the mother of former Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy after her death following a long illness.
It is understood Mr Kennedy was in the area when his mother died on Sunday. He lives next door to his parents on the family croft at Lochyside, which is in his Ross, Skye and Lochaber constituency.
Mary Kennedy, 87, was a well-known figure in the her community of Caol and Lochyside, near Fort William. She played the organ at St John's RC Church at Caol for many years. She was originally from Arisaig on the Fort William to Mallaig road and had three children with her husband Ian – Charles, Isobel, who lives in Canada, and Ian, who lives in Caol. In 2011, Mary and Ian Kennedy were awarded a Benemerenti medal from the Pope for services to the Catholic Church.
Mrs Kennedy's funeral will be held at St John's Church, Caol, on Friday.
Danny Alexander, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, who grew up in Lochaber, said: "My thoughts are with Charles, his father and the rest of his family at this very difficult time."
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