PRAYERS have been offered from around the world for an 11-year-old schoolgirl who remains in critical condition in hospital after being hit by a car more than three weeks ago.
Mary O’Neill and her brother Fintan (14) had just got off their school bus when they were struck by an Audi A3 on the Staffordstown Road at its junction with the Greenan Road, between Toome and Randalstown, Co Antrim on January 17.
The two children were taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital following the collision.
It is believed Mary suffered from head injuries, while Fintan suffered from injuries that included a broken leg.
The pair are pupils of St Patrick’s College in Maghera, who cancelled a scheduled opening event after hearing the news.
It is understood Fintan O’Neill is recovering well, however friends, family and schoolmates have taken to social media to request as many people as possible offer their prayers for Mary's recovery.
Last week, a poular religious page on Facebook published a post asking their followers to join in the initiative.
Almost 1,000 comments, some from as far a field as Abu Dhabi and New Zealand have been written in response to the post offering messages of support.
The site of the accident is around a half a mile from Creggan, where a community Road Safety Committee had previously campaigned for traffic calming measures to be put it place.
South Antrim SDLP councillor Roisin Lynch said public representatives would now "look at road safety issues like the lighting on the road and the speed and the issue around school drop-off points".
