Northern Ireland

Parents of Co Armagh teenage hit-and-run victim pay tribute to ‘darling, beautiful daughter'

The scene at Monaghan Road, Armagh, where Lesley-Ann McCarragher (19) died after a hit-and-run accident. Picture by Cliff Donaldson 
The scene at Monaghan Road, Armagh, where Lesley-Ann McCarragher (19) died after a hit-and-run accident. Picture by Cliff Donaldson  The scene at Monaghan Road, Armagh, where Lesley-Ann McCarragher (19) died after a hit-and-run accident. Picture by Cliff Donaldson 

A 19-YEAR-OLD who died after a hit-and-run in Co Armagh has been described as a "beautiful, fun loving and outgoing young girl".

The parents of Lesley-Ann McCarragher also paid tribute on Sunday to their "darling, beautiful, intelligent daughter".

The student was struck by a car on the Monaghan Road, between Armagh city and Milford, at around 12.25pm on Saturday.

She was airlifted to Belfast's Royal Victoria Hospital but died on Sunday morning.

The teenager had attended Aghavilly Primary School near Armagh and was a former head girl at City of Armagh High School.

A student at Loughry food and agriculture college near Cookstown, she was pictured receiving a bursary award just last month.

Friends suggested she was out running at the time of the collision.

A 17-year-old man was arrested and was still in in custody on Sunday night assisting police with their enquiries.

The Monaghan Road was closed between its junctions with Ungola Road and Baltarran Road after the crash.

In a moving note left at the scene, the teenager's devastated parents wrote: "Mummy and Daddy will always love you, our darling, beautiful, intelligent daughter.

"Always bubbly, a smile for everyone with those big beautiful brown eyes.

"Loved, cherished and will never be forgotten. Mummy and Daddy xo xo"

City of Armagh High School also paid tribute to Miss McCarragher in a social media post.

"The school mourns the passing of past pupil and head girl Lesley-Ann McCarragher who passed away early this morning. So many people from the school have fond memories of Lesley-Ann and we would like to send our condolences to her family and many friends at this time."

A former teacher wrote on Facebook: "Lesley-Ann was a beautiful, fun loving and outgoing young girl who put her heart into everything she did.

"It was a pleasure to teach Lesley-Ann at Aghavilly Primary School and to see the further commitment she made to her studies at City of Armagh High School, The Royal School, Armagh and more recently Loughry College.

"She worked hard but always remembered how to have fun. You will be sadly missed Lesley-Ann."

Local football club Mid-Ulster Ladies FC cancelled their match scheduled for yesterday as a mark of respect to Miss McCarragher, who it said had joined the club earlier this season.

Friends also paid tribute on social media, with one describing the Armagh woman as an "amazing person and caring friend".

Another wrote: "Cannot believe the girl who I spent all my years growing up with, from being best friends in primary school to being together in high school, has passed away. It was only a few weeks ago I was speaking to you and we were standing having a laugh about our high school days."

The mother of one of Miss McCarragher's classmates added: "Lesley-Ann was one of the nicest, most beautiful people I had the pleasure of knowing."

DUP Newry and Armagh MLA William Irwin said that his thoughts and prayers were with the family.

"An awful ordeal for another family who have been plunged into grief following a road related fatality in Armagh City. Please contact the police with any information."

Police have appealed to anyone with information, in particular with details of a white Saab car, to contact officers on 101.