Northern Ireland

Greenvale Hotel owner Michael McElhatton released by police

Greenvale Hotel owner Michael McElhatton
Greenvale Hotel owner Michael McElhatton Greenvale Hotel owner Michael McElhatton

GREENVALE Hotel owner Michael McElhatton has been released by police.

The 52-year-old, who met officers by arrangement on Wednesday, was released on bail later that day before returning on Thursday morning.

He had appeared in court in Dungannon on Wednesday as police were granted a 36-hour extension to question him.

Teenagers Morgan Barnard (17), Lauren Bullock (17) and Connor Currie (16) died in a crush as they queued for a disco at his hotel in Cookstown, Co Tyrone on St Patrick's night.

A police spokesman last night confirmed that "a 52 year old man arrested by detectives investigating the deaths of three teenagers at the Greenvale Hotel in Cookstown on Saint Patrick’s Day has been released pending a report to the PPS".

Meanwhile, police have said that the “voluntary interview process” for a 39-year-old man who voluntarily attended Dungannon police station on Wednesday and Thursday “has completed at this time".