Cookstown deaths: Watchdog investigates police response to teenagers' fatal disco crush on St Patrick's day

Officers initially withdrew from the car park where three schoolchildren died, it has emerged

Police officers who went to a hotel in Northern Ireland where three teenagers were crushed to death are to face investigation after it emerged they initially withdrew from the scene.

The Police Ombudsman will examine how officers responded after emergency calls were made over the tragedy at a Cookstown hotel on St Patrick’s Day.

Co Tyrone schoolchildren Morgan Barnard, 17, Lauren Bullock, 17, and Connor Currie, 16, died in a crush at the entrance to the Greenvale Hotel on 17 March.

Police are thought to have been attacked in the area on previous occasions, and officers who arrived at the hotel by car initially withdrew amid fears of a potentially hostile environment.

Officers in Northern Ireland exercise caution over facing large crowds at night because of security concerns.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland Chief Constable George Hamilton has referred the actions of the officers to ombudsman Dr Michael Maguire.

The day after the tragedy Assistant Chief Constable Mark Hamilton said: “Our preliminary investigations show there was a crush towards the front door of this hotel, and in that crush people seem to have fallen.

“There seemed to be a little bit of struggling going on to get people up off the ground, and that might explain also why there was a report of some fighting.”

The deaths sparked a major investigation, with detectives identifying more than 400 young people who were in the queue or the car park that night.

Investigators said it was fortunate more people were not killed.

The funerals of the three teenagers were held in Cookstown on Friday.

Deputy Chief Constable Stephen Martin said: “Part of the investigation has included a review of the initial police response.

“The first police officers arrived at the hotel grounds shortly after receiving the 999 report.

“Following their initial assessment, they made attempts to establish more detail and information about what was happening and subsequently withdrew to await further police support.”

We would ask that people do not speculate or prejudge the outcome of the ombudsman’s investigation

Deputy Chief Constable Stephen Martin

He said that when the first ambulance arrived, police moved forward.

“The timing and nature of police actions during this period require further investigation to fully establish the facts,” Mr Martin said.

“The confidence of the families and the confidence of the communities we serve are at the forefront of our minds in our decision to refer this matter to the Police Ombudsman.

“We will work with the ombudsman to support whatever action he undertakes and would ask that people do not speculate or prejudge the outcome of the ombudsman’s investigation.”

Hotel owner Michael McElhatton, 52, was arrested last week on suspicion of manslaughter and bailed.

Another man, aged 40, was also questioned on suspicion of manslaughter and released on bail.

Additional reporting by PA