Cookstown tragedy: PSNI interviewing nearly 200 young people as part of probe
Mobile phone footage will be examined
The PSNI revealed today (Thursday) they had interviewed 82 young people as part of their investigation into the St Patrick’s Day tragedy at the Greenvale Hotel in Cookstown.
And they said they planned to interview a further 106 over the next few days.
Detective Chief Superintendent Raymond Murray, Head of Serious Crime Branch (main pic), said: “With the funerals of Morgan, Connor and Lauren tomorrow, my thoughts and the thoughts of all my officers are very much with the families. Our job is to get them answers as to why they have lost their children.”
“To date, detectives involved in the investigation have identified 400 young people who were in the queue or car park on Sunday evening.”
Police have renewed their appeal for information and say they are looking at mobile phone footage from the night.
“As part of our investigation we have utilised the Major Incident Public Portal to allow people to upload mobile phone footage and images of the evening,” Detective Murray added.
“We have also deployed one of our Cyber Support Vehicles to Cookstown to enable us to download mobile phone footage from people at the scene.
“Detectives would continue to appeal to anyone who has not yet contacted us to please come forward and in the joint statement from the three families, they have made clear their wish that witnesses come forward and talk to police.
“Detectives would again reassure anyone with concerns, the focus of our investigation is not the age of people who were at the event – it is about trying to find answers for the families of the three teenagers who tragically died.
Detective Chief Superintendent Raymond Murray added: “I would urge parents to talk with your children, support them and encourage them to come forward and tell their story to police so we can get an accurate picture of events that night. Their account of events on Sunday night could be crucial to establishing how Connor, Lauren and Morgan died.
“There are a number of ways people can talk to police.
“Detectives can be contacted at the dedicated incident room at Dungannon police station by calling 101, extension 53055.
You can visit the dedicated room at the Burnavon Arts Centre in Cookstown Anyone with any information, images or footage can also pass it to police via the following link: https://mipp.police.uk/operation/PSNI19O08-PO1.