Northern Ireland

Teenager knocked down and killed "was beautiful inside and out”

It is understood the couple were returning from a night out when they were struck down
It is understood the couple were returning from a night out when they were struck down It is understood the couple were returning from a night out when they were struck down

A TEENAGER knocked down and killed returning from a night out has been remembered as “beautiful inside and out”.

Shannon McQuillan (19) died and her boyfriend Owen McFerran (21) is fighting for his life in hospital after they were hit by a van on the Moneynick Road in Toome early on Saturday.

The Ulster University law student was with Mr McFerran at the time and he is now in a critical condition. 

The Police Ombudsman is investigating.

This is not the first time a road tragedy has affected the McQuillan family. Shannon’s uncle Frank was knocked down and killed on the same stretch of road 14 years ago.

Ms McQuillan, who was from the village of Dunloy in Co Antrim, was a former pupil at St Louis Grammar School in Ballymena. She was studying law with criminology at Ulster University at Jordanstown.

Mr McFerran is a former pupil of Our Lady of Lourdes in Ballymoney and works as a joiner.

It is understood the couple were returning from a night out when they were struck.

Shannon’s brother Paul told The Irish News he will never a meet anyone quite like his little sister again.

“Shannon was a truly unique and special person, absolutely one of a kind,” he said.

“She was beautiful inside and out, a genuinely hilarious girl. 

“I have never come across a person even remotely similar to her and I never will.”

Shannon’s younger sister Charlene said: “Shannon was not only my sister but my best friend. She will be forever in my heart.”

Sinn Fein MLA Philip McGuigan, who lives in Dunloy and knows the McQuillan family well, recalled the death of Shannon’s uncle Frank


McQuillan.

“A number of years ago Frank, a brother of Shannon’s father Paul, also passed away after being hit by a car in the same area,” he said.

“It’s just devastating for the family.

“Shannon really was a lovely girl and she had so much going for her. She had worked extremely hard to put herself in the position to be able to go to university to study law.

“Shannon’s future was very bright and my heart goes out to her family at this difficult time. We are also thinking and praying for the young fella from Ballymoney who is injured and for his family.” 

Last night it emerged that the ombudsman’s office is investigating the circumstances leading up to Ms McQuillan’s death.

Mr McGuigan said: “The family of Shannon McQuillan are aware that the Police Ombudsman’s office are now investing the circumstances, in particular the involvement of the PSNI, leading up to her tragic death in the early hours of Saturday


morning.

“The family are determined that we get all the facts of what happened on the night and I fully support them in this endeavour.

“Obviously the additional information has compounded an already grief-stricken family so I would appeal on their behalf that the press give them the privacy they deserve through this difficult time.”

Shannon McQuillan (left) was killed after being struck down on in the early hours of Saturday morning. Charlene McQuillan (left) paid a tribute to her sister
Shannon McQuillan (left) was killed after being struck down on in the early hours of Saturday morning. Charlene McQuillan (left) paid a tribute to her sister Shannon McQuillan (left) was killed after being struck down on in the early hours of Saturday morning. Charlene McQuillan (left) paid a tribute to her sister