Beam me up, Paddy: Actor who played Star Trek's Scotty was Irish

In this undated photo released by Paramount Pictures, James Doohan, far right, who played Scotty in the original 'Star Trek' television series and movies is pictured with DeForest Kelley, Leonard Nimoy, Walter Koenig, Nichelle Nichols, William Shatner and George Takei. Picture: AP/Paramount

A genealogist has boldly gone where no other genealogist has gone before and proved the famous actor who played Scotty in the original Star Trek series was Irish.

"Beam me up Scotty" became a famous catchphrase in the series when chief engineer Scotty (James Doohan) was commanded by Captain James T Kirk (William Shatner) to bring him back aboard the Starship Enterprise.