Tag Archives: Greenvale Hotel

This afternoon.

Further to the death of three teenagers – Lauren Bullock, 17, Morgan Barnard, 17, and 16-year-old Connor Currie – at the Greenvale Hotel in Cookstown, Co Tyrone on St Patrick’s night when there was a “crush” in the car park of the hotel.

A statement from Deputy Chief Constable Stephen Martin has been released this afternoon, stating:

“The ongoing investigation into the tragic events at the Greenvale Hotel is active and wide ranging.

“As part of that investigation, it is right and proper that the actions of all those involved are considered.

“Part of the investigation has included a review of the initial police response.

“The first police officers arrived at the hotel grounds shortly after receiving the 999 report.

“Following their initial assessment they made attempts to establish more detail and information about what was happening and subsequently withdrew to await further police support.

“When the first ambulance arrive police moved forward in support of them.

“The timing and nature of police actions during this period require further investigation to fully establish the facts.

“The Chief Constable has therefore decided that the initial police response should be subject to independent scrutiny and it is in the public interest to refer the circumstances and the nature of the actions of the first officers arriving at the scene to the Police Ombudsman.

“The family have been informed of the referral.

“The confidence of the families and the confidence of the communities we serve are at the forefront of our minds in our decision to refer this matter to the Police Ombudsman.

“We will work with the Ombudsman to support whatever action he undertakes and would ask that people do not speculate or prejudge the outcome of the Ombudsman’s investigation.”

Previously: ‘A Very Complex Investigation’

This afternoon.

Saint Patrick’s Church, Donaghmore, Co Tyrone.

School friends and clubmates of Lauren Bullock, one of three people killed during an apparent crush at the Greenvale Hotel, Cookstown, Co Tyrone, wait for her coffin following a funeral service.

Meanwhile…

Edendork, Dungannon, County Tyrone

Edendork gaelic club team mates link arms around the coffin of Greenvale Hotel victim Conor Currie before it is carried into Saint Malachy’s Church for a funeral service.

Earlier, a third victim Morgan Barnard’s funeral took place St Patrick’s Church in Dungannon.

Funeral of third student gets under way in Tyrone (RTÉ)

Eamonn Farrell/RollingNews

From top: Greenvale Hotel in Cookstown, Co Tyrone, PSNI Detective Chief Supt Raymond Murray speaking to journalists at a press conference in Dungannon today

This morning.

In Dungannon, Co Tyrone.

PSNI Detective Chief Superintendent Raymond Murray, at a press conference, called on people who were at the Greenvale Hotel in Cookstown, Co Tyrone, on Sunday night, to come forward and to speak to the police.

They’re also appealing for any pictures or footage taken on the night to be given to the PSNI.

It follows the deaths of Lauren Bullock, 17, Morgan Barnard, 17, and 16-year-old Connor Currie during a “crush” in the car park of the hotel on Sunday night.

Mr Murray told the journalists present that between 350 and 400 people may have been in the carpark during the “crush” and that the PSNI wants to speak to as many of those people as possible.

He said about 160 of those 400 have so far come forward.

He also said that anyone who was underage at the licensed premises should not be concerned about any legal repercussions in relation to that.

He said:

“That is not an issue in this investigation. It should be an inhibition to any young person coming forward and telling us what they know.”

“The absolute focus in this investigation is about finding out how three teenagers came to die at what should have been a celebratory event, and what happened before that and what happened during that.”

Mr Murray also encouraged parents of young people who were present to speak to their children and encourage them to tell them to go to the police.

He said:

“That is absolutely critical to us getting an accurate picture of what happened that night. And I think we owe it to Connor and to Lauren and to Morgan to do everything we can to establish what exactly happened.”

Asked by a journalist if the PSNI, who have examined CCTV footage of the hotel, are close to understanding what happened at the hotel on Sunday night, Mr Murray said:

“I think we have some initial indications of what has happened. I don’t want to go into too many of them, as you understand. I’m in the middle of a very, very complex investigation.

“However, what we can say, without a shadow of a doubt, it’s been widely reported, is that it was a crush situation and one of the doors, which would have taken you through eventually into the function room, where the event was to be held, this crush appeared to go on for quite a period of time.

“And that is the focus of our investigation.

“However, we will be looking more generally about how the event was run, how it was planned for, all of that was part of what is going to be a long and complex investigation.”

Mr Murray also said many more than three people could have died on Sunday night.

PSNI Cookstown (Facebook)

UPDATE: