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Girl critical after bus collision | Girl critical after bus collision |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A nine-year-old girl remains critically ill following an accident in County Tyrone which claimed the life of her 16-year-old cousin. | A nine-year-old girl remains critically ill following an accident in County Tyrone which claimed the life of her 16-year-old cousin. |
Nicola Murray, a pupil at St Ciaran's High School in Ballygawley, died in the collision between the bus and a lorry on Wednesday. | |
Her cousin, Grainne Mallon, is being treated in Belfast's Royal Hospital. | Her cousin, Grainne Mallon, is being treated in Belfast's Royal Hospital. |
Martin Mallon, Nicola's uncle, said the families are close and comforting each other. | |
"The family has come through a lot of stuff over the years - they all stick together and they are strong," he said. | |
"The people round that area, Protestant, Catholic it doesn't matter what they are, they are all extremely good neighbours and all work very well together and stand together. | |
"That's what really keeps things going, that community spirit and it keeps their heads up." | |
Education Minister CaitrÃona Ruane is to brief other ministers on the tragedy when the Northern Ireland Executive meets later. | Education Minister CaitrÃona Ruane is to brief other ministers on the tragedy when the Northern Ireland Executive meets later. |
Father Pat Hannigan spent several hours with Grainne's family at the Royal and said they were trying to remain strong. | Father Pat Hannigan spent several hours with Grainne's family at the Royal and said they were trying to remain strong. |
"They were hopeful, they were optimistic but quietly so," he said. | "They were hopeful, they were optimistic but quietly so," he said. |
"Obviously they are in a state of shock and there is that cloud, or shadow, that's hanging over them. But they are hopeful, and they are very much together." | "Obviously they are in a state of shock and there is that cloud, or shadow, that's hanging over them. But they are hopeful, and they are very much together." |
The crash happened as the bus turned into St Mary's Primary School in Cabragh at about 0830 GMT on Wednesday. | The crash happened as the bus turned into St Mary's Primary School in Cabragh at about 0830 GMT on Wednesday. |
We simply cannot afford to wait a further two or three years until the new road is constructed before some measures are introduced Tom Elliott | We simply cannot afford to wait a further two or three years until the new road is constructed before some measures are introduced Tom Elliott |
The bus was carrying about eight pupils from St Ciaran's High School and seven from St Mary's Primary School. | The bus was carrying about eight pupils from St Ciaran's High School and seven from St Mary's Primary School. |
The driver of the lorry, who was arrested after the accident, has since been released by police. | The driver of the lorry, who was arrested after the accident, has since been released by police. |
It is understood the bus involved was a new vehicle, fully fitted with seatbelts and had CCTV cameras. | It is understood the bus involved was a new vehicle, fully fitted with seatbelts and had CCTV cameras. |
The schools said there was a good culture of wearing seatbelts among the pupils. | The schools said there was a good culture of wearing seatbelts among the pupils. |
There have been calls for action to address the number of fatal accidents on the Ballygawley line. | There have been calls for action to address the number of fatal accidents on the Ballygawley line. |
A multimillion-pound roads improvement scheme which will turn the road into a dual carriageway got under way earlier this month. | A multimillion-pound roads improvement scheme which will turn the road into a dual carriageway got under way earlier this month. |
Local assembly member Tom Elliott said there needed to be interim measures to reduce the number of accidents on the road. | Local assembly member Tom Elliott said there needed to be interim measures to reduce the number of accidents on the road. |
"We simply cannot afford to wait a further two or three years until the new road is constructed before some measures are introduced," he said. | "We simply cannot afford to wait a further two or three years until the new road is constructed before some measures are introduced," he said. |