POLICE are continuing to speak to teenage witnesses following the St Patrick's night tragedy in Cookstown.
Detectives from the PSNI's Major Investigation Team (MIT) were based at the town's Burnavon Arts Centre from 10am to 10pm yesterday to encourage young people to speak to them.
Detective Superintendent Richard Campbell urged any witnesses who had not yet spoken to officers to come forward and again stressed that those who were underage at the Greenvale Hotel disco had nothing to fear.
“I can understand that there may be some reluctance to come and speak to police if you are underage, but please do not be concerned. We are investigating the deaths of three young people – that is our focus," he said.
“If you have video footage on your phone I would ask that you please bring it with you, as we have the ability to download it. This footage could prove vital to our investigation.”
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Police have also encouraged young people to send them any images from the night using a special web portal at mipp.police.uk/operation/PSNI19O08-PO1.
Meanwhile, teams of detectives have also been visiting schools, and teenagers have been giving oral and video evidence both there and in their own homes.
At a press conference in Dungannon on Tuesday, police said around 160 witnesses had been tracked down at that point but CCTV footage indicated that between 350-400 people had been in the queue or its vicinity when events unfolded outside the hotel.
The Education Authority (EA) has meanwhile confirmed its critical incident team has staff working in five schools and has provided support and advice to a further seven schools in the area.
It has also opened its facilities at Ógras Youth Club, Coalisland, Dungannon Youth Resource Centre and Cookstown Youth Resource Centre to allow young people affected by the tragedy to speak to youth workers.
The victims:
- Morgan Barnard's father describes the family's devastation
- Connor Currie was 'much loved'
- Lauren Bullock remembered as 'a shining light'
