Kay McFarlane

Kay McFarlane, 34, was to be sentenced at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court last Thursday after having crashed her car at Crosshouse Hospital last summer when she was over the drink-drive limit.

“She was a very capable and confident young solicitor, doing well and running her own firm,” a source said.

Ms McFarlane, who passed away last Wednesday, was the director of Mair Matheson Solicitors.

Another source said: “What a poor girl. She was talented but had a lot of issues to overcome.”

Simon Brown, defending, had told the court that Ms McFarlane had had problems following the death of her father.

He said she had taken “significant steps” to become sober but had relapsed.

Sheriff Higgins had deferred sentence for a social work report. The Crown Office is investigating her death.