He’ll be 78 and in failing health he has been forced to quit his home town – the place he calls “my town”.
A fiercely proud Dungannon man and someone who has been places mere mortals can only dream of, McKinney has had to concede ground, perhaps for the first time in his life.
As an uncompromising wing forward he earned 25 caps for Ireland and toured South Africa with the fabled 1974 British and Irish Lions, captained by his friend Willie John McBride – this is a man who has fought many battles.
“I threw the first punch on that tour,” he told the Sunday World.
The first of many.
“You’re right!”
Stewart McKinney is a celebrated rugby legend. He’ll be 78 and in failing health he has been forced to quit his home town – the place he calls “my town”.
He says his rented semi-detached house on Woodvale Park in the town has become a torture chamber.
Every weekend, he says, is an assault on his senses. Unable to sleep, he feels driven from his home of five years.
He has lived close to a number of people over that period – most of whom have been the perfect neighbours.
“There was a group of Filipinos there for a while, what lovely, lovely people.
“Then these people moved in, I think there are three of them and it’s been hell ever since.”
Sitting in his now sparse living room, he taps an open suitcase on the floor with the walking stick he needs to stay upright.
“That’s it, nearly packed.”
Lions Players relaxes on the beach with a game of Football
Stewart says the cars start arriving on Friday evening and it continues all weekend.
The music blares until 5am.
Last weekend he checked into a Belfast hotel to get three days away from the din and an elusive good night’s sleep.
There was no one at home on the day the Sunday World called to the house, and there is no suggestion the occupants are doing anything illegal.
But for Stewart the noise levels at weekends have forced him to quit his home in Co Tyrone.
When contacted, Mid Ulster District Council confirmed a complaint had been received on October 22.
A spokesperson said there has been ongoing dialogue with the parties involved, adding that it would be inappropriate to comment further until that process is completed.
The investigation will continue despite Mr McKinney leaving the area. He has made repeated complaints to the PSNI who have told him it’s not a police matter.
He said Mid Ulster Council are “sympathetic’’ but have been unable to make any headway and have not been out to measure alleged excessive sound.
The landlord, who has let the house, failed to honour a promise to Stewart for a meeting.
“He didn’t turn up,” Stewart says.
The Sunday World has contacted the landlord and the council for comment.
Stewart says he is speaking out because he is aware someone will move into the house after him. He is also furious that tenants living in rental accommodation are at the mercy of unruly neighbours.
“I can’t tell you what it’s been like,” he said.
“Look, I’m out of here, but I can’t in all conscience just walk away without saying something.”
Despite ailing health – which he believes is down to the hard knocks of his rugby career – Stewart’s spirit burns bright.
He suffered a series of whiplash-type injuries which, in some cases, resulted in fractures to his vertebrae, but those knocks aren’t what keep him awake at night.
But a sense of justice and fairness drives him on.
A number of years ago, while staying in the same hotel in which he sought refuge last weekend, he suffered a brain haemorrhage which left him in a coma.
He has since developed epilepsy and other seizures, which, thankfully, are under control with the help of medication.
Many lives and careers are forged against the odds, Stewart McKinney’s is one of them.
Born with spina bifida, Stewart has spent his life defying the odds.
His condition meant he walked and played with a limp, but with the encouragement of his coaches he played on.
“I remember going to my old coach, Ken Armstrong, in tears and telling him I couldn’t play any sport, let alone rugby, he growled at me, ‘we’ll see about that’.”
The rest is history.
Dungannon, Ulster, Ireland and the Lions came calling. He became the first Dungannon man since Roberston Smith in 1903 to become a Lion. Wearing his cap, British and Irish Lion 526 paid homage at the graveside of his predecessor.
“When I went to South Africa with the Lions, I played with a limp. The boys called me ‘that Galloping Major’ because I ran like a horse.” Stewart is donating his brain to Queen’s University to help prevent players coming after him suffering the same brain injuries he has endured.
Thankfully his memory is intact.
“I wouldn’t change anything, I spoke to (fellow Lion) Ian McLaughlin who can barely walk because of his injuries and we agreed we’d do it all again.
“We travelled the world and made friends all over the world.”
Illness prevented Stewart becoming president of his beloved Dungannon Rugby Club.
He remains in touch with his Lions comrades – Willie John and close friend (Welsh rugby player) Bobby Windsor in particular
“I rang Willie and told him I’d fallen over the garden wall and said to me ‘God’s sake Stewart, you can’t be climbing walls at your age!’”
By the time you read this he will have moved to live with his son in Ballymena, surrounded by his grandchildren, but defiance burns bright.
“I’m going, but I don’t want to, this is my town, I came here when I was seven picking spuds for a few shillings a week, grew up in the tough White City estate, this town has been good to me.
“I want to die here, but it’s been denied me.”
As we leave his now former home, he came to the doorstep.
“Did I tell you, someone from Queen’s rang my daughter and asked her if they could have my brain now? She said ‘he’s not f***ing dead yet!’”
Laughing, he closed the door.
“Have to finish packing.”
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