Three teens die after crush at St Patrick's Day hotel party in Co Tyrone
Two boys and a girl die after a crush at a St Patrick's Day party and a second girl is in a stable condition in hospital.
Monday 18 March 2019 17:21, UK
Three teenagers have died following a party in a hotel in Cookstown, Co Tyrone, the Police Service of Northern Ireland has said.
Two boys, 16 and 17, and a 16-year-old girl died after a crush towards the front of the Greenvale Hotel, which had been holding a St Patrick's Day party for young people.
A second girl, 16, is in a stable condition in hospital while two other teenagers were treated for more minor injuries.
Assistant Chief Constable Mark Hamilton said: "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.
"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."
Shortly after the incident, police posted a message on Twitter urging parents to collect their children from the hotel.
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."
The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service said it had taken four people to hospital.
"Three patients have been taken, by ambulance, to Antrim Area Hospital for treatment for various injuries and another to Craigavon Area Hospital."
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.
Democratic Unionist Party leader Arlene Foster tweeted that her "thoughts and prayers" were "with everyone impacted by this tonight".
The DUP's Lord McCrea told Sky News: "Young people go out and parents expect their children to come home, but some children aren't going home. Irrespective of what the circumstances are, it's an absolute tragedy."
Colin Neill, chief executive of Hospitality Ulster, said: "We are devastated to hear of the confirmed PSNI report of at least two deaths this evening at the Greenvale Hotel in Cookstown.
"This is shocking and tragic news and our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the deceased."