Cillian's magic touch

Boy wizard inspires an autisitic nine-year-old to utter first word

- SIOBHAN O'CONNOR

CILLIAN O'CONNOR's magical performance on Britain's Got Talent has inspired a nine-year-old boy with autism to utter his first words.

The 14-year-old cast a spell on the UK audience to come third in the talent show, narrowly missing out on the €250,000 top prize.

But for Cillian, who has autism and dyspraxia, the biggest reward was using his platform to encourage other children on the spectrum to follow their dreams.

His proud mum Elaine told us: "We are getting hundreds of letters and emails.

"One woman told us her son was non-verbal, but now all he keeps saying is 'Cillian, Cillian, Cillian'.