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St Patrick's Day: Three dead at Cookstown hotel event | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Three people are now confirmed dead following a St Patrick's Day party at a hotel in Cookstown, County Tyrone. | |
Two 17 year olds and a 16 year old died following the incident at the Greenvale Hotel on Sunday night. | |
Police said that, while the exact circumstances were still unknown, there had been reports of a crush at the scene. | Police said that, while the exact circumstances were still unknown, there had been reports of a crush at the scene. |
The hotel was hosting a party for young people to celebrate St Patrick's Day. | |
Family members of all those involved have been informed, the Police Service of Northern Ireland said. | |
Paramedics, doctors and five emergency crews were dispatched to the venue at about 21:30 GMT. | |
In a Facebook post at 22:41 GMT, the police asked parents to collect their children from the hotel immediately. | In a Facebook post at 22:41 GMT, the police asked parents to collect their children from the hotel immediately. |
At the scene | At the scene |
by Mark Simpson, BBC Newsline | by Mark Simpson, BBC Newsline |
There is a huge sense of shock around the County Tyrone town. | There is a huge sense of shock around the County Tyrone town. |
Reports began circulating at 22:00 GMT that people had died. The news of two fatalities was confirmed by police just after midnight. | Reports began circulating at 22:00 GMT that people had died. The news of two fatalities was confirmed by police just after midnight. |
There were distressing scenes as some people who knew those who died broke down in tears at the police cordon. | There were distressing scenes as some people who knew those who died broke down in tears at the police cordon. |
A representative of the nearby Glenavon Hotel said the PSNI borrowed its defibrillator. | A representative of the nearby Glenavon Hotel said the PSNI borrowed its defibrillator. |
Emma Heatherington, of Donaghmore, 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. | "My two boys were there so I rang them, shaking, and thankfully got them both," she said. |
"They said 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 said 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." | "They came home very, very shaken with rumours that some people had died." |
Sinn Féin vice-president Michelle O'Neill, whose Assembly seat of Mid Ulster partly covers Tyrone, tweeted: "Heartbreaking news coming from Cookstown tonight. A parent's worst nightmare." | Sinn Féin vice-president Michelle O'Neill, whose Assembly seat of Mid Ulster partly covers Tyrone, tweeted: "Heartbreaking news coming from Cookstown tonight. A parent's worst nightmare." |
Democratic Unionist Party leader Arlene Foster tweeted that her "thoughts and prayers" were "with everyone impacted by this tonight". | Democratic Unionist Party leader Arlene Foster tweeted that her "thoughts and prayers" were "with everyone impacted by this tonight". |
Speaking from outside the hotel, UUP councillor Trevor Wilson said: "I'm getting conflicting reports from people about what exactly happened, but there's clearly a deep sense of shock here tonight that an event for young people just wanting to celebrate St Patrick's night went so horribly wrong." | Speaking from outside the hotel, UUP councillor Trevor Wilson said: "I'm getting conflicting reports from people about what exactly happened, but there's clearly a deep sense of shock here tonight that an event for young people just wanting to celebrate St Patrick's night went so horribly wrong." |
Colin Neill, chief executive of Hospitality Ulster, said on Sunday night: "We are monitoring the situation closely and echo the PSNI appeal to parents to make contact with their children and collect them immediately from the venue." | Colin Neill, chief executive of Hospitality Ulster, said on Sunday night: "We are monitoring the situation closely and echo the PSNI appeal to parents to make contact with their children and collect them immediately from the venue." |