Northern Ireland

Cookstown: Two men arrested on suspicion of manslaughter in connection with deaths of three teenagers

From left, Connor Currie (16), Lauren Bullock (17) and Morgan Barnard (17) died following a crush outside a St Patrick's Day disco at the Greenvale Hotel in Cookstown 
From left, Connor Currie (16), Lauren Bullock (17) and Morgan Barnard (17) died following a crush outside a St Patrick's Day disco at the Greenvale Hotel in Cookstown  From left, Connor Currie (16), Lauren Bullock (17) and Morgan Barnard (17) died following a crush outside a St Patrick's Day disco at the Greenvale Hotel in Cookstown 

TWO men have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter in connection with the deaths of three teenagers at the Greenvale Hotel in Cookstown on St Patrick's night.

Officers from the PSNI Major Investigation Team arrested the 40-year-old and 52-year-old today.

The victims:

  • Morgan Barnard's father describes the family's devastation
  • Connor Currie was 'much loved'
  • Lauren Bullock remembered as 'a shining light'

Up to 400 young people were outside the hotel where a St Patrick's Day disco was taking place on Sunday March 17 and three teenagers died following a crush.

The PSNI said today that it has already identified more than 160 witnesses and assured parents and people under the age of 18 that they will not be prosecuted for trying to enter licensed premises.

"I want to reassure you, the focus of our investigation is not the age of people who were at the event – it is about trying to find answers for the families of the three teenagers who tragically died – we need to know what you saw so the heartbroken families of Connor, Lauren and Morgan know what happened to their children", DCS Raymond Murray said.

"I would urge parents to talk with your children, support them and encourage them to come forward and tell their story to police so we can get an accurate picture of events that night." 

Read more:

  • Teenager describes 'pushing and shoving' outside Greenvale Hotel in Cookstown
  • Greenvale Hotel owner 'deeply shocked' by teens' deaths