The families who lost three teenagers in a St Patrick’s Day "crush" at a Cookstown hotel have been updated on a probe into police conduct on the night.
Connor Currie, 16, and 17-year-olds Lauren Bullock and Morgan Barnard died as they queued for a nightclub event on March 17 last year.
The Police Ombudsman is investigating five police officers for the potential criminal offence of Misconduct in Public Office and two officers for possible breaches of police procedure.
Police Ombudsman, Marie Anderson said: “My investigators have briefed the families of Lauren, Morgan and Connor on the broad range of enquiries that have been conducted through this complex investigation, which arose from a referral by the Chief Constable in relation to the police response to the incident.
“My investigation is examining not only the manner of the police response to emergency calls but also the broader context in which these deaths occurred.”
Mrs Anderson said her investigators had progressed a substantial number of enquiries.
“These include the examination of data relating to the telephone calls made to police by people at the Greenvale Hotel on the night of the tragedy and the movements of police in the area.
“Police Body Worn Video footage has been reviewed, and we are also examining all relevant police documentation and recordings of police radio communications.”
A total of seven officers have been interviewed in relation to the tragic events of that night.
Mrs Anderson said her investigators have already raised a number of policing practice matters with the PSNI to help future tragedies of the same natures in Northern Ireland.
When the ombudsman’s investigation is finished a file will be sent to the Public Prosecution Service for their consideration and a further report will go to the Coroner’s Office.
“All this takes time, but I have committed to continue to update the families and police officers involved about the process as our enquiries continue,” added Mrs Anderson.
