Lines of police tape have been strung across the courtyard outside the popular venue, where bottles shoes and bags are still scattered across the ground

Lines of police tape have been strung across the courtyard outside the popular venue, where bottles shoes and bags are still scattered across the ground

Hotel owner, 54, and doorman, 40, are arrested on suspicion of corporate manslaughter after three teenagers were killed and hundreds fought for their lives in St Patrick’s Day disco stampede

By peace 5 years ago

Police have arrested a hotel owner and doorman on suspicion of manslaughter today after three teenagers were killed during a St Patrick’s Day disco stampede on Sunday. 

Lauren Bullock and Morgan Barnard, both 17, and Connor Currie, 16 were killed when pushing broke out in a crowd of around 700 teenagers waiting to get into the Greenvale Hotel in Cookstown, Northern Ireland.

Around 100 young people were pushed off their feet in a mass of bodies against the closed gates of the venue, which was hosting a St Patrick’s Day disco that evening. 

Detectives from the Police Service of Northern Ireland confirmed two arrests this evening, saying men aged 52 and 40 had been taken into custody.

The owner of the Greenvale Hotel, Michael McElhatton, is understood to be one of the men arrested on suspicion of manslaughter.

While a member of the door staff at the hotel is thought to be the other suspect detained.

Lauren Bullock, a Year 13 student at St Patrick's College in Dungannon, died in the awful crush

+20

Morgan Barnard, 17, whose Facebook profile shows a young man's love of football and cars, was also killed

+20

Lauren Bullock and Morgan Barnard, both 17, lost their lives in the horrifying crush on Sunday night

It is understood that the owner of the Greenvale Hotel, Michael McElhatton (pictured), is one of the men arrested on suspicion of manslaughter

+20

It is understood that the owner of the Greenvale Hotel, Michael McElhatton (pictured), is one of the men arrested on suspicion of manslaughter

Heartfelt tributes were paid to teenage gaelic footballer Connor Currie who died in Sunday night's horrifying crush of teenagers waiting to get into a St Patrick's Day disco

+20

Connor Currie, 16, who played for Edendork St Malachy's GAA club, was one of three young people to lose their lives

+20

Heartfelt tributes were paid to teenage gaelic footballer Connor Currie who died in Sunday night’s horrifying crush of teenagers waiting to get into a St Patrick’s Day disco

Students from Holy Trinity College leave floral tributes outside The Greenvale Hotel today following the death of three teenagers

+20

Students from Holy Trinity College leave floral tributes outside The Greenvale Hotel today following the death of three teenagers 

Students were visibly upset as they left tributes to three teenagers who died in a disco stampede on Sunday

+20

Students were visibly upset as they left tributes to three teenagers who died in a disco stampede on Sunday

Tributes have been placed outside the hotel all day (pictured are students today), and eyewitnesses have described scenes of chaos on the night of the deaths

+20

Tributes have been placed outside the hotel all day (pictured are students today), and eyewitnesses have described scenes of chaos on the night of the deaths

A statement from the force said: ‘Detectives from PSNI Major Investigation Team investigating the deaths of three teenagers at the Greenvale Hotel in Cookstown on Saint Patrick’s Day have arrested two men aged 52 and 40 earlier today on suspicion of manslaughter. 

‘They are currently in custody’.

Read more at:

Tags: , , ,