‘Focus on finding answers’ one year on from hotel crush tragedy

Detectives investigating the deaths of three teenagers who died after a crush at a hotel in Cookstown last St Patrick’s Day have provided an update on their progress.

Sixteen-year-old Connor Currie and 17-year-olds Lauren Bullock and Morgan Barnard lost their lives outside a disco at the Greenvale Hotel, as several hundred people tried to get into the venue.

Marking the first anniversary of the tragedy, PSNI Detective Chief Inspector Eamonn Corrigan said: “One year on from the heart-breaking events, our thoughts remain very much with the families of the three teenagers who sadly lost their lives at the St Patrick’s night event, and also with their friends, anyone who witnessed the tragedy unfold, and the wider community.

“We do not underestimate that today will be extremely painful and traumatic for the families of Morgan Barnard, Lauren Bullock and Connor Currie and I would like to reassure them that our focus remains firmly on trying to find answers for them.

“We remain in close, regular contact with these families, providing them with updates on the progress of the investigation - which is one of the largest undertaken by the PSNI.

“We will continue to offer them personal updates at any time of their choosing.”

Police say the investigation is advancing, but that it will take time as it is complex and involves a significant number of witnesses and substantial amounts of evidence.

DCI Corrigan added: “We have identified more than 1,000 witnesses within this investigation - amongst these are approximately 800 young people who were at the venue on St Patrick’s night.

“It takes time to cross reference witness statements with CCTV footage, mobile phone videos, and phone calls made to the emergency services, as well as other evidence gathered.

“I understand the length of time this takes can be frustrating for the teenagers’ loved ones, but it is important we get this right for them.”

Police say that, to date, two people have been arrested and a further eight people have been interviewed under caution.

The two people arrested have been released pending a report to the Public Prosecution Service.

The eight people who were interviewed under caution were all men ranging in age from 20s to 50s.

Seven of the men have been further interviewed under caution and will be subject to a report to the PPS.

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