Three teenagers dead after ‘crush' at hotel's St Patrick's Day party
Three teenagers have died following reports of a crush outside a St Patrick's Day party at the Greenvale Hotel in Cookstown, Northern Ireland, last night (Sunday).
A 17-year-old girl, 17-year-old boy and a 16-year-old boy have died. A 16-year-old girl is in a stable condition in hospital and two more teenagers have been treated for injuries.
Police and paramedics were called to the hotel shortly before 9.30pm and made an urgent appeal via social media for parents to collect their children from the event.
Officers received reports of a crush amongst a large group of young people waiting to enter the disco, as well as of some fighting after the incident, but the exact cause remains under investigation.
PSNI assistant chief constable Mark Hamilton said this morning: "I can confirm that a third teenager has now sadly died from injuries sustained during an incident at the Greenvale Hotel in Cookstown last night."
He added: "First and foremost my thoughts this morning are very much with the families of the three young people who passed away and those who were injured. 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 have launched a joint investigation with the environmental health department of Mid Ulster Council to establish what happened.
Anyone who witnessed the event is asked to contact police on on 101 ext 52014.
Picture: Google
