The Police Service of Northern Ireland issued an alert to parents to collect their children from the event at the Greenvale Hotel in Cookstown, Co Tyrone.
Two people have died following a St Patrick's Day event in Northern Ireland. A third has been brought to the hospital following the incident in the Greenvale Hotel in Cookstown, Co Tyrone.
The BBC reports that emergency services were called to the hotel around 21:30 (GMT) on Sunday night after reports that several people were unwell. Five emergency crews attended the scene and the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) issued a message to parents to collect their children from the venue. It is believed a large group of young people were in attendance.
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Cookstown councillor Trevor Wilson says two dead in hotel incident #cookstown pic.twitter.com/6t8r7aNz0R
— Connla Young (@ConnlaYoung) March 18, 2019
Initial reports claimed that a stampede outside the hotel had been responsible for the deaths but a local journalist claimed that this was not the case. At the scene, Brendan Marshall said that he had spoken to the DJ at the event.
"He confirmed that - contrary to the rumors that had been circulating - there had been no crushing and nothing had collapsed," Marshall told BBC News NI.
"He told me that a number of young people had become seriously ill. He said one young person was brought to him by a friend to have their pulse checked.
"The DJ then shone a light in their eyes to check that they were alive."
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A multi agency incident is under way at Greenvale Hotel, Cookstown. ACC Mark Hamilton said: “I can confirm there are 2 fatalities at this stage and a small no of other casualties. Parents are asked to collect children from Family and Friends reception at Glenavon Hotel.”
— PSNI Mid Ulster (@PSNIMidUlster) March 18, 2019
News of fatalities was confirmed by the police just after midnight and the community is said to be in shock.
"I'm getting conflicting reports from people about what exactly happened, but there's clearly a deep sense of shock here tonight that an event for young people just wanting to celebrate St Patrick's night went so horribly wrong," said local politician Trevor Wilson.
ACC Mark Hamilton added: “While the exact cause of the incident is still unknown, there are reports of a crush at the scene.”
— PSNI Mid Ulster (@PSNIMidUlster) March 18, 2019
Updates to come.
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