Three teenagers dead after St Patrick's night tragedy at hotel in Cookstown
PSNI set up a major incident team to establish circumstances
Last updated 18th Mar 2019
Three teenagers - two boys and a girl - have died after a major incident in Cookstown.
They were attending a St Patrick's night disco at the Greenvale Hotel around 9.30 last night (Sunday) when they were caught up in a suspected crushing incident
All three - the boy and girl (both 17) and a 16-year-old boy - are believed to be from the Dungannon area.
One other teenager - a 16-year-old girl - is in hospital - in a stable condition.
The PSNI instigated a major multi-agency incident and have launched a full investigation into the circumstances.
PSNI Assistance Chief Constable Mark Hamilton said earlier: “I can confirm that a third teenager has now sadly died from injuries sustained during an incident at the Greenvale Hotel in Cookstown last night.
"The three teenagers who died are a 17-year-old girl, a 17-year-old boy and a 16-year-old boy. A 16-year-old girl is in a stable condition in hospital. A further two teenagers were treated for injuries they received during the incident.
"First and foremost my thoughts this morning are very much with the families of the three young people who passed away and those who were injured. It is heart-breaking that an event which should have been fun for these youngsters on St Patrick’s night should end in such a terrible tragedy."
ACC Hamilton appealed for information about the incident.
"Our investigation is at an early stage, and while the exact cause of the incident is still unknown, there are reports of a crush at the scene and initial enquiries indicate that a large group of young people were waiting to enter a disco.
"We also have reports of some fighting after the incident commenced and at least one person has reported that they were assaulted.
"We are continuing to interview people who were there to establish the full facts and I would appeal to anyone who witnessed what happened to contact police on 101 ext 52014.
"We need parents to talk to their children this morning and encourage them to come and tell us what happened. Please do not post photographs or videos online. Please share them with the PSNI.
"I would also ask motorists who have dash cam footage, as well as anyone who captured the incident on their mobile phone through photographs or video, to upload them to Major Incident Public Portal https://mipp.police.uk/ “
Ulster Unionist Cookstown Councillor Trevor Wilson said:
“This incident has profoundly shocked the entire area and the people of Cookstown. My immediate thoughts are with the families of the deceased, and everyone else who has been affected."
Mid Ulster DUP MLA Keith Buchanan added:
“This was a very serious incident at a venue that was obviously very busy on St Patrick’s night. The police have confirmed that there have been fatalities and my thoughts are with those families receiving such devastating news.
"Cookstown is a tightly knit community and the loss of life will be felt right across the entire area.
"The full details surrounding the incident are yet to emerge but it is absolutely devastating that a night out over a bank holiday weekend has ended in such tragic circumstances."
Emma Heatherington, whose two sons, aged 17 and 18, had been at the event, said she felt sick'' when she saw the police appeal.
"My two boys were there so I rang them, shaking, and thankfully got them both,'' she said. "They were on their way home at that stage.
"They say there was a huge crowd waiting to get into the venue and then a lot of commotion up near the front of the queue, then they said the emergency services arrived and they were all asked to leave.
"They came home very, very shaken with rumours that some people had died.''
The 42-year-old, of Donaghmore, Co Tyrone, added: While it's not clear exactly what happened, it's the most tragic ending imaginable to what was supposed to be a celebration of St Patrick's Day.''
A member of staff at the nearby Glenavon Hotel said he had heard the sirens as emergency services rushed to the scene, and said police had come to borrow their defibrillator.
"There were ambulances passing our entrance,'' he said. It's scary, and you just hoped everyone was OK.
"It's very sad to hear what happened."
The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) said it had received several calls from about 9.30pm on Sunday and sent two rapid-response paramedics, two doctors and five emergency crews to the scene.
DUP leader Arlene Foster tweeted last night that her "thoughts and prayers'' were "with everyone impacted by this tonight''.
And Sinn Fein deputy leader Michelle O'Neill called it a "parents' worst nightmare''.
"My thoughts and prayers are with the families,'' she added
Secretary of State, Karen Bradley, expressed her sincere sorrow at the news.
She said: "I am deeply sorry to hear that three young people tragically lost their lives at a hotel in Cookstown. They were joining others in what should have been an evening for celebration. My thoughts and prayers are with their families and friends at this extremely difficult time.
"I have spoken this morning to ACC Mark Hamilton of the PSNI who is leading the investigation alongside the Heath and Safety Executive and I asked to be kept updated. I want to thank the Police, Ambulance and Fire Services for all that they did last night in responding to this incident."