My Big Fat Gypsy wedding’s Paddy Doherty pays tribute to ‘one in a million’ nephew Mikey Collins

My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding star Paddy Doherty and his extended family have paid tribute to his ‘one in a million’ nephew who was killed when his horse and cart was hit by a BMW. 

Paddy Doherty’s nephew Mikey Connors, 32, was killed in a horror horse and cart collision on July 28 last year along with his champion horse Big T.    

Mr Connors was driving a horse and cart on the A2016 Eastern Way dual carriageway in Thamesmead, London, when a BMW struck him. 

My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding star Paddy Doherty and his extended family have paid tribute to his ‘one in a million’ nephew who was killed when his horse and cart was hit by a BMW

Paddy Doherty's nephew Mikey Connors, 32, was killed in a horror horse and cart collision on July 28 last year along with his champion horse Big T. Pictured is Doherty showing his tattoo which reads: 'RIP my favourite nephew. Gone but never forgotten. Always in my heart.'

Paddy Doherty’s nephew Mikey Connors, 32, was killed in a horror horse and cart collision on July 28 last year along with his champion horse Big T. Pictured is Doherty showing his tattoo which reads: ‘RIP my favourite nephew. Gone but never forgotten. Always in my heart.’

Mr Connors was driving a horse and cart on the A2016 Eastern Way dual carriageway in Thamesmead, London , when a BMW struck him. Pictured are his sisters at his memorial

Mr Connors was driving a horse and cart on the A2016 Eastern Way dual carriageway in Thamesmead, London , when a BMW struck him. Pictured are his sisters at his memorial 

Connors's headstone is surrounded by dozens of roses and tributes left by his large family

Connors’s headstone is surrounded by dozens of roses and tributes left by his large family 

On Sunday Mr Doherty and more than 100 others went to Epsom Cemetery in Surrey where a ceremony held after his funeral took place. His family released doves while celebrating his life

Mr Doherty admits that even though his nephew's death was a whole year ago, he is 'thinking like it happened yesterday

Mr Doherty admits that even though his nephew’s death was a whole year ago, he is ‘thinking like it happened yesterday

Mikey Connors was killed as he raced his horse and cart on the A2016 in Thamesmead.

Mikey Connors was killed as he raced his horse and cart on the A2016 in Thamesmead. 

Connors was buried last August in a blue casket engraved with a £100,000 jewel-encrusted crown

Connors was buried last August in a blue casket engraved with a £100,000 jewel-encrusted crown

On Sunday Mr Doherty and more than 100 others went to Epsom Cemetery in Surrey where a ceremony held after his funeral took place.

Dressed in red from head to toe, Connors’s sisters gathered together as his mother held a picture of him in one hand, and the bridle of champion horse Big Taffy in the other.  

Mr Doherty admits that even though his nephew’s death was a year ago, he is ‘thinking like it happened yesterday’, The Sun reported.  

He describes Connors as ‘one in a trillion’ and also said that he feels sorry for the BMW driver facing sentencing over the death of his nephew.

Earlier this month Billy Budd, 31, tearfully admitted causing death by careless driving and destruction of property in respect of Big T, valued at £6,000, when he appeared at Southwark Crown Court. 

The case has been adjourned for a pre-sentence report. 

Budd – whose address was not given in court – admitted one count of causing death by careless driving and destruction of property. He has been released on bail ahead of his sentencing on August 16th.   

Doherty told the newspaper: ‘Mikey was a great man. He was an all rounder. He was a worker, he was a horseman and a gentleman as well’.

Paddy featured in Channel 4’s Big Fat Gypsy Wedding and rose to fame on Celebrity Big Brother in 2011. 

Earlier this month Billy Budd, 31, tearfully admitted causing death by careless driving and destruction of property in respect of Big T, valued at £6,000, when he appeared at Southwark Crown Court. Pictured are the bottles of gold champagne from Harrods that Connors's family bought for his memorial

Earlier this month Billy Budd, 31, tearfully admitted causing death by careless driving and destruction of property in respect of Big T, valued at £6,000, when he appeared at Southwark Crown Court. Pictured are the bottles of gold champagne from Harrods that Connors’s family bought for his memorial

Budd - whose address was not given in court - admitted one count of causing death by careless driving and destruction of property. He has been released on bail ahead of his sentencing on August 16th

 Budd – whose address was not given in court – admitted one count of causing death by careless driving and destruction of property. He has been released on bail ahead of his sentencing on August 16th

Big Taffy prepares to go for a run with Mikey's younger brother Simey, 21, taking the reins, at the memorial

Big Taffy prepares to go for a run with Mikey’s younger brother Simey, 21, taking the reins, at the memorial 

Pictures and flowers were put out for the guests who attended the memorial at Epsom cemetery - adjacent to Epsom Downs racecoure

Pictures and flowers were put out for the guests who attended the memorial at Epsom cemetery – adjacent to Epsom Downs racecoure

Connors's father Patrick was seen wiping a tear away at the emotional memorial held on Sunday

His mother, Mary, clutched a picture of him to her chest

Connors’s father Patrick was seen wiping a tear away at the emotional memorial held on Sunday. His mother, Mary, clutched a picture of him to her chest

The Connors family release white doves following a short service as members of the traveller community gather

The Connors family release white doves following a short service as members of the traveller community gather

Paddy Doherty's nephew Michael Connors, 32, was killed in a horror horse and cart collision on July 28 last year. Paddy is pictured at his nephew's funeral

Paddy Doherty’s nephew Michael Connors, 32, was killed in a horror horse and cart collision on July 28 last year. Paddy is pictured at his nephew’s funeral

Billy Budd, pictured, 31, has admitted killing traveller Michael Connors in a horse and cart smash

Mr Connors, pictured, who was the nephew of Big Fat Gypsy Wedding star Paddy Doherty, died in July 2018

Billy Budd, 31, left, admitted causing the death of ‘King of the Road’ traveller Michael ‘Mikey’ Connors, right, in a horse and cart crash in July 2018

The photographs surround the plot where Mr Connors will be laid to rest at Epsom Cemetery today

Mr Doherty and more than 100 others today went to Epsom Cemetery in Surrey where his funeral took place. The grave site at the time of his nephew’s funeral is pictured above

Doherty is pictured at his nephew's funeral. He has expressed his heartache a year on after losing his nephew in a crash

Doherty is pictured at his nephew’s funeral. He has expressed his heartache a year on after losing his nephew in a crash

Friends and family are pictured following the coffin of Mikey Connors at his funeral. The baby blue coffin was also adorned with a WBC boxing belt

Friends and family are pictured following the coffin of Mikey Connors at his funeral. The baby blue coffin was also adorned with a WBC boxing belt

Family members, including Paddy Doherty, are pictured mourning as the coffin of his nephew Mikey Connors was carried from St Michaels Church in Ashstead

Family members, including Paddy Doherty, are pictured mourning as the coffin of his nephew Mikey Connors was carried from St Michaels Church in Ashstead

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk