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St Patrick's Day: Three dead at Cookstown hotel event St Patrick's Day: Three dead at Cookstown hotel event
(32 minutes later)
Three teenagers are now confirmed dead following a St Patrick's Day party at a hotel in Cookstown, County Tyrone.Three teenagers are now confirmed dead following a St Patrick's Day party at a hotel in Cookstown, County Tyrone.
A 17-year-old girl, a 17-year-old boy and a 16-year-old boy have died following the incident at the Greenvale Hotel on Sunday night.A 17-year-old girl, a 17-year-old boy and a 16-year-old boy have died following the incident at the Greenvale Hotel on Sunday night.
Three other teenagers were also treated in hospital. A number of other teenagers have also been treated in hospital.
The police said there were reports of a crush at the scene and inquiries indicated that a large group of young people were waiting to enter a disco. The police said there were reports of a crush at the scene, with a large group of young people waiting to get into a disco.
Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Ass Ch Con Mark Hamilton said: "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." Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Ass Ch Con Mark Hamilton said: "It is heartbreaking that an event which should have been fun for these youngsters on St Patrick's night should end in such a terrible tragedy."
Northern Ireland Ambulance Service's Medical Director Dr Nigel Ruddell said: "Everything points towards it being a tragic accident."
He said one of the teenagers had died at the scene.
"It was clearly a very distressing scene for all those who were caught up in the midst of it," he added.
He thanked ambulance crews who "dedicated themselves to working throughout the night despite having dealt with a very difficult situation".
Major incident was declared
The hotel was hosting a party for young people to celebrate St Patrick's Day.The hotel was hosting a party for young people to celebrate St Patrick's Day.
Paramedics, doctors and five emergency crews were dispatched to the venue at about 21:30 GMT.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.
Mr Hamilton said the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service had received a 999 call on Sunday night with reports of people injured outside the hotel.Mr Hamilton said the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service had received a 999 call on Sunday night with reports of people injured outside the hotel.
They declared it a major incident and police, the fire Service and environmental health staff then also attended the scene.They declared it a major incident and police, the fire Service and environmental health staff then also attended the scene.
"Police arrived within two minutes of the call from the ambulance service and quickly secured the scene," he said."Police arrived within two minutes of the call from the ambulance service and quickly secured the scene," he said.
"We made an urgent appeal via social media to parents of the young people to come and collect them from a Friends and Family Centre which was established in the nearby Glenavon Hotel."We made an urgent appeal via social media to parents of the young people to come and collect them from a Friends and Family Centre which was established in the nearby Glenavon Hotel.
"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."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 also have reports of some fighting after the incident commenced and at least one person has reported that they were assaulted."
Mr Hamilton said police were continuing to interview people who were at the party to establish the full facts and appeal to anyone who witnessed what happened to contact police.Mr Hamilton said police were continuing to interview people who were at the party to establish the full facts and appeal to anyone who witnessed what happened to contact police.
At the scene
by Mark Simpson, BBC Newsline
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.
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.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."