16-year-old dies from meningitis

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/foyle_and_west/7795107.stm

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A teenage girl from Strabane has died of meningitis.

Terri Devine, 16, died in Altnagelvin hospital on Sunday morning after she was taken ill early last week.

Letters have been sent to the homes of fellow students at Holy Cross College informing them there had been a case of meningitis at the school.

Local priest Father John Doherty, who has been comforting the family, said it was a "tremendous tragedy", which had "stunned the whole community".

"It's been a terrible tragedy, particularly at this time of year. Her parents and her sister are very distraught," he said.

The principal of Holy Cross College, Maria Doherty, said Terri's death came as a complete shock.

"Terri was in school on Wednesday sitting a mock GCSE exam, and had flu-like symptoms.

"She was unable to come into school on Thursday, and then unfortunately events took a turn for the worse and Terri was taken into hospital on Friday and was gravely ill.

"She unfortunately passed away in the early hours of yesterday morning," she said.