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Tribute to little boy who died in St Stephen's Day horror crash

  The scene of the fatal crash on the Old Carrick Road 
  The scene of the fatal crash on the Old Carrick Road    The scene of the fatal crash on the Old Carrick Road 

A SEVEN-YEAR-OLD boy from Co Antrim who was killed in a three car pile up on St Stephen's Day was Jackson Turner, police have said.

The youngster was a primary four pupil at Sunnylands Primary School in Carrickfergus.

His school principal Gareth Hamilton said that Jackson had just last week taken part in the school's nativity play, and described him as a "fabulous big brother".

“Jackson was a great character within the school, he was just full of life and loved to take part in everything that was going on,” he said.

“He played an active part in our Nativity play just a week ago or so," Mr Hamilton said.

“He was such a fabulous big brother. I used to watch him in the mornings, he used to walk in with his little sister, who is in primary one, and hold her hand.

“He was such a caring wee boy and one who will be sorely missed by the whole school community.” 

Jackson died several hours after the road accident in which a four-year-old girl was injured.

Police said the collision, involving two Nissan cars and a Citroen, occurred at Old Carrick Road, Newtownabbey at about 6.30pm on Saturday.

Seven other people were injured in total.

The PSNI said Jackson was rushed to the Royal Victoria Hospital where he died several hours following the accident.

The female driver of the car in which Jackson had been travelling, remains in hospital with serious injuries and the injured four-year-old girl is said to have suffered less injuries.

Police said five people from the two other cars were also injured but none of them have been classed as life-threatening.

Meanwhile to people have died in the roads in the south.

A 20-year-old woman died in a single car crash in Co Wexford on Sunday.

The incident happened at Camblin, New Ross at around 4.50pm this afternoon when the car she was driving struck a wall.

The woman was pronounced dead at the scene and her body has been removed to University Hospital Waterford.

The crash victim was the only occupant of the car.

A 38-year-old man died after his car went into a flooded area near the Grand canal in Co Offaly.

The accident happened near the village of Pollagh in the early hours of Sunday.

Gardaí are still at the scene and are carrying out an investigation. 

It is understood the mans car may have left the road and went into a flooded drain area adjacent to the Grand canal which is also flooded.