We Are Tyrone

Lauren Bullock

  • Donaghmore community walks in solidarity for inspirational Lauren

    Donaghmore community walks in solidarity for inspirational Lauren

    DONAGHMORE’S close-knit community came together at the weekend in a fundraising walk in memory of Lauren Bullock.

    Hundreds turned out for the fundraising event which was being held to mark the 21st birthday of Lauren who was killed

    in the tragic crush at Greenvale Hotel in 2019, which also claimed the lives of  Morgan Barnard (17) and Connor Currie (16).

    Classmates and close friends of Lauren were among the large crowd at the walk which started from the Torrent Centre in Donaghmore on Sunday morning.

    The walk was organised by the Lauren’s Legacy group – set up by her family – to raise funds for charities supporting children, as Lauren had always wanted her career to focus on helping children.

    In a social media post, Lauren’s family expressed their delight with the success of the day.

    “Totally and utterly wrecked but so full of joy and happiness at what has been created in Lauren’s name,” they said. “Her legacy not only been to raise a huge amount of money but to bring together a community full of people for a day of celebration.”

     

  • Mother of Greenvale victim to undertake charity climb

    Mother of Greenvale victim to undertake charity climb

    A RE-SCHEDULED charity is being held event next weekend being undertaken by the mother of a teenager who died in the Greenvale Hotel tragedy of March last year.

    Lauren Bullock’s mother, Mary, and 20 others will go up the popular tourist site at different stages and times to ensure safety and social distancing.

    The event takes place on Sunday, September 27 next, and is being held in aid of the Derry-based charity, Children in Crossfire and @angelwishes.

    The event was due to take place earlier this year on a much large scale, but had to be postponed due to the coronavirus crisis.

    In a social media post, Mary said that they now had the chance to go ahead with the walk, even though it will be in a smaller way than had been intended.

    “The money we have raised to date and any extra we collect over the course of the next two weeks will be issued to our charities. To date we have raised £12,868 and have already issued a shared £1300 to the two charities,” she said.

    “I know that some of your – Lauren’s friends and many of our family members will still want to do the walk and honour Lauren’s memory – so we look forward to seeing your photos at the top o fthe mountain, message our page and we will post updates.

    “Thankyou to all of you who have been so generous already in your donations in Lauren’s memory and in our name and we know that the work of these charities will ensure that good things continue to happen.”

    Lauren Bullock (17), Morgan Barnard (17) and Connor Currie (16) all died outside the Greenvale Hotel as they were awaiting to gain entry to a St Patrick’s Night disco in 2019.

    Earlier this year, a Garden of Hope was opened at Lauren’s school, St Patrick’s College in Dungannon. It was built by pupils at the school, many of whom were friends of Lauren.

    In the summer, Morgan Barnard’s mother, Maria, did a skydive to mark what would have been her son’s 18th birthday.

  • Seven interviewed 'under caution' over hotel tragedy

    Seven interviewed 'under caution' over hotel tragedy

    SEVEN people have now been interviewed ‘after caution’ by the PSNI as part of the investigation into the deaths of three teenagers at the Greenvale Hotel in Cookstown on St Patrick’s night last year.

    The Tyrone Herald can reveal that the seven were among around 1000 witnesses present at the venue – over 400 more than the last figures suggested – and that over 200 people have provided ‘written witness statements about what happened at the tragedy.

    Morgan Barnard from Dungannon, Lauren Bullock from Donaghmore and Connor Currie from Edendork died in a crush while awaiting entry into a disco at the premises along with hundreds of others on March 17, 2019.

    The seven attended their interviews voluntarily and the contents of the interviews and related investigations are also part of the file to the Public Prosecution Service. Two people, including the hotel owner, Michael McElhatton, had previously been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter.

    The TyroneHerald can also reveal that in excess of 1000 witnesses have been identified within the investigation, which the PSNI says is one of the largest that they have ever undertaken.

    A total of 148 people have been identified as potential ‘significent witnesses,’ details received by this newspaper under a Freedom of Information request can reveal.

    “Analysing these interviews and identifying the relevant and significant evidence from them is a mjaor aspect of the ongoing work being done by the investigation,” the PSNI has said.

    “Our best estimate at present is that approximately 800 young people were at the venue.

    “This is an estimate because we are still working to positively account for a small number of people who are believed to have been present, although it is likely that some of these may be duplicates of those we have already identified and spoken to.

    “From the point of view of witnesses, including those young people who were at the venue on St Patrick’s night, 148 people have been identified as ‘significant witnesses’ where it was deemed appropriate to carry out an in-depth interview on video.

    “Analysing these interviews and identifying the relevant and significant evidence from them is a major aspect of the ongoing work being done by the investigation team.”

    The PSNI declined to say whether any of the young people present that night would be facing prosecution in relation to trying to enter licensed premises at the Greenvale Hotel.

    Instead, they said that their investigation continues to focus on trying to find answes for the families of the three teenagers who tragically died.

    Last week, the PSNI confirmed that it has submitted an interim file to the PPS.