Family of Celtic Legend Billy McNeill Reveal Dementia Heartache

THE family of Billy McNeill have revealed that the Celtic legend has dementia.

- Paul Cuddihy

The club’s greatest ever captain, who led the Hoops to their historic European Cup triumph in 1967, was diagnosed seven years ago. And his family have now spoken publicly about the illness, which has also robbed Billy of his voice.

In an emotional interview with the Sunday Mail at the weekend, Billy’s wife, Liz, spoke about the initial shock of the diagnosis, through to dealing with the condition on a daily basis today.

Liz explained: “It is sad. We don’t know what he can remember because he can’t communicate. We don’t know if he can remember what he did. Sometimes you will see something, a smile or a look but then it goes.

“Not being able to communicate with him is hard. He understands when you speak to him directly but only for a short time. He can’t concentrate. He can’t follow a conversation. If this had happened to him when he was younger then I might feel different but he’s 77 in March and we have to accept it. We take it day by day.”

And Liz explained that Billy still recognises his family and his closest friends.

“Celtic have been great, as have the supporters, and some of the old friends and players come and take him out. People like Pat Bonner, Andy Walker, Frank MacAvennie and Murdo MacLeod come over.

“We are still doing things every day. He can’t sit still for very long so I take him out. We go to the shopping centre and people still come up to him. I now tell them that he can’t speak because of the dementia. We never hid it. Seven years ago, it was a family matter but I think the time is right to talk about it.”