Northern Ireland

Timeline of harrowing scenes outside the Greenvale Hotel

The Greenvale Hotel in Cookstown
The Greenvale Hotel in Cookstown The Greenvale Hotel in Cookstown

New details have emerged about the harrowing scenes outside the Greenvale Hotel as three teenagers lost their lives during a crush on St Patrick's night.

It is believed CCTV footage seized from the hotel has provided police investigators with an overview of the events which led to the deaths of Morgan Barnard (17), Lauren Bullock (17) and Connor Currie (16), outside the Cookstown venue.

The parents of Morgan Barnard - James Bradley and Maria Barnard - have held a series of meetings with police officers investigating their son's death in recent weeks.

It is understood that footage viewed by police shows the first signs of a 'squeeze' at 9.08pm.

Three minutes later at 9.11pm the 'squeeze' appears to intensify.

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The first signs of a 'surge' in the crowd, which led to the deadly crush, were evident at 9.16pm, the footage shows.

It is understood Morgan, who had travelled to the hotel for a teenage disco, can be seen outside the venue at 9.13pm.

Eight minutes later at 9.21pm Morgan appears again on mobile phone footage captured on the night.

Connor Currie (16), Lauren Bullock (17) and Morgan Barnard (17) died during a crush at the Greenvale Hotel in Cookstown on St Patrick's night
Connor Currie (16), Lauren Bullock (17) and Morgan Barnard (17) died during a crush at the Greenvale Hotel in Cookstown on St Patrick's night Connor Currie (16), Lauren Bullock (17) and Morgan Barnard (17) died during a crush at the Greenvale Hotel in Cookstown on St Patrick's night

At 9.26pm it is believed that the 'surge' had grown and that some people in the crowd - estimated to be around 600 - struggled to remain standing.

The first 999 call is also made to police and the Ambulance Service at 9.26pm as the situation becomes more desperate.

Just one minute later at 9.27pm the first person can be seen falling to the ground.

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At 9.29pm the first PSNI officers arrive in the hotel car park travelling in two separate vehicles with two officers in each.

Five minutes later, at 9.34pm, the four officers drive from the hotel grounds, without having left their vehicles, and travel the short distance to the Drum Road where they remain for 11 minutes.

It is believed that a police officer spoke to Greenvale Hotel owner Michael McElhatton by telephone before the decision was taken to leave the hotel's grounds.

At 9.40pm a person, believed to be Morgan Barnard, is carried from the surging crowd by other young people and hotel door staff.

At 9.45 an ambulance arrives at the scene and the PSNI officers who initially responded follow it into the hotel car park on foot.

Frantic efforts were then made to try and save the lives of those caught up in the chaos.

At 10.05pm an ambulance, driven by a PSNI officer, rushes Morgan to Craigavon Area Hospital arriving at 10.45pm.

Morgan's parents were later told that their son had died in the crush.