Northern Ireland

School to hold counselling for pupils following fatal car accident

Police at the scene of the crash in Kilcoo, Co Down, in which an 18-year-old man was killed
Police at the scene of the crash in Kilcoo, Co Down, in which an 18-year-old man was killed Police at the scene of the crash in Kilcoo, Co Down, in which an 18-year-old man was killed

A CO Down school will have counsellors on site today following a fatal car crash at the weekend involving its pupils.

Present and past students of St Mark's High School in Warrenpoint were involved in the accident which took place in the early hours of Saturday.

An 18-year-old man was killed and another remains in a critical condition.

Three other young people - a man and two women - were also taken to hospital.

The single-vehicle collision took place on the Hilltown Road in Kilcoo shortly before 2.30am.

The five were travelling in a blue Volkswagen Bora.

On its Facebook page, St Mark's said it will be open from 2pm today for all Year 12 and post 16 students "who wish to come together as we pray for our past and current students who have been injured in a recent road accident".

It added: "Counsellors will be present for the young people as they begin to come to terms with this tragic event which has happened in our school community."

It is understood that the school has been in contact with the Education Authority's critical incident team.

Sinn Féin MP for South Down Chris Hazzard said the community was "shocked and saddened" at the teenager's death.

“My thoughts are with the friends and family of this young man and all who knew him at this sad and tragic time," he said.

Mr Hazzard also wished the other four people involved in the accident "a full recovery".

SDLP councillor for the Warrenpoint area Karen McKevitt said her thoughts and prayers were with the family of the young man who had lost his life.

"It is every parent's worst nightmare to receive a call in the middle of the night, or at any other time, telling them there has been an accident," she said.

Ms McKevitt said the local community, and the peers of those involved in the accident, had been extremely shaken by what had happened.

"We hope those who are injured make a full recovery" she added.

Police are appealing to anyone who was travelling on the Hilltown Road early on Saturday morning and who saw the car before the crash, or anyone who has dash-cam footage, to contact them on 101, quoting reference number 167 26/10/19.