Girl, 11, Killed by Car: Tributes Pour In
Tragedy in Co Derry: Girl Dies After School Bus Incident
Table of Contents
- Tragedy in Co Derry: Girl Dies After School Bus Incident
- Tragedy in Co Derry: Q&A About the School Bus Incident
- Frequently Asked Questions
- What happened in Co Derry?
- who was the victim of the school bus incident?
- Where did the tragic incident occur?
- What has been the community’s reaction to the tragedy?
- What support is being offered to students and staff at St Pius X College?
- How have officials responded to the incident?
- What is the PSNI doing in response to the incident?
- What is the Major Incident Public portal?
- How is the Castledawson Community Partnership involved?
- What other recent tragedies have impacted the area?
- What support is the Education Authority (EA) providing?
- Key People and Organizations Involved
- Frequently Asked Questions
Published: 2025-03-07
A wave of grief has swept through Co Derry following the death of a 12-year-old girl who was struck by a car after disembarking from her school bus.The tragic incident occured on wednesday, shortly after 4pm on Hillhead Road, a busy country road just outside castledawson.
Community Mourns the Loss
The young victim, identified as a 12-year-old girl, was a student at St Pius X College in magherafelt. The school community remembers her as an “outgoing, bubbly and caring” individual.
St Pius X College expressed their “profound sadness” in a Facebook post, extending their thoughts to the girl’s family. The school further shared, “Caitlin-rose was a very popular pupil who was always smiling.Her former teachers described her as a ‘joy to teach due to her kind and fun-loving nature’.”
The impact of this tragedy is deeply felt,with the school noting,”Caitlin-Rose’s friends and classmates are heartbroken by her untimely passing and they are receiving support from our staff and relevant professional services.”
Official Responses and Support
Stormont Education Minister Paul Givan described the incident as “devastating,” adding, “As a parent, when we set our children off to school in the morning, none of us ever expect to receive such devastating news. The Education Authority’s critical incident team is in contact with the school and will provide support to the pupils and staff.”
Denise Johnston, a teacher and SDLP councillor familiar with the family, described the news as “the worst possible news”.She poignantly stated, “She was a lovely, lovely wee girl.This is a very tight knit community and people are absolutely shocked.”
In the wake of the accident, immediate support was offered. Ms. Johnston noted that the school bus carries “a lot of kids” from schools in Magherafelt, making the incident “traumatic for them”. She added, “One of the schools opened its doors last night for any of their pupils who witnessed the accident or were on the bus. Counselling was offered to those who needed to come in.”
Police Investigation and Appeal
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) is actively investigating the collision and has appealed to the public for responsible behavior regarding potential evidence. A PSNI spokesman stated, “I would ask anyone with footage to instead forward it to police through the Major Incident Public Portal.This footage will be of great assistance to officers investigating the collision.”
A Community in Mourning
This tragedy compounds recent grief in the area. As Anne Forde, a DUP councillor for 20 years, noted, the child’s death comes a month after a teenage girl died following an incident in which she was rescued from the Moyala river, a short distance from the crash scene. “It is a double tragedy the village, two young girls dying in the same area,” she said.
Forde further emphasized the community’s devastation: “The community is stunned, the community is feeling heartbroken. The child had only just started secondary school and a lot of families living here have got children that age.They’re just devastated for the family…there are no words.”
The Castledawson Community Partnership is convening to address the community’s needs. Ms. Forde affirmed, “Everyone will want to support the family and all those affected by this tragedy, the good people of Castledawson will rally round them.”
Northern Ireland’s Education authority (EA) confirmed that a specialist team is providing support to the school. The institution stated, “Our sincere condolences are with the family, friends, fellow pupils and staff at the school, and all those affected by this tragic incident.”
The EA added, ”Our Critical Incident Response Team are supporting the school during this difficult time and will provide emotional support to both students and staff.We would kindly ask that the family, school and wider community are afforded the time and space to grieve this unimaginable loss.”
The PSNI investigation remains ongoing, seeking to understand the full circumstances of this heartbreaking event.
Tragedy in Co Derry: Q&A About the School Bus Incident
Following the heartbreaking incident in Co derry where a 12-year-old girl was tragically killed after being struck by a car upon exiting her school bus, many questions arise. This Q&A provides data regarding the incident, the responses, and the ongoing investigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in Co Derry?
on Wednesday, March 5th, 2025, shortly after 4 pm, a 12-year-old girl was struck by a car on Hillhead Road, just outside Castledawson, Co Derry, after she disembarked from her school bus. sadly, she died consequently of the collision.
who was the victim of the school bus incident?
The young girl was identified as a 12-year-old student from St Pius X College in Magherafelt. The school community remembered her as an ”outgoing, bubbly and caring” person named Caitlin-Rose McMullan.
Where did the tragic incident occur?
The incident took place on Hillhead Road, a road near castledawson, in Co Derry, Northern Ireland after the young girl exited her school bus.
What has been the community’s reaction to the tragedy?
The community is deeply grief-stricken by the sudden loss.St Pius X College expressed profound sadness, noting the impact on Caitlin-Rose’s friends and classmates, who are receiving support. Local councillors and community partnerships are rallying to support the family and all those affected.
What support is being offered to students and staff at St Pius X College?
The Education Authority’s critical Incident Response Team is providing emotional support to both students and staff at St Pius X College. Counselling services are available to those who witnessed the accident or were on the bus, with one school opening its doors to offer immediate support.
How have officials responded to the incident?
- Stormont Education Minister Paul Givan: Described the incident as “devastating” and assured that the Education Authority is providing support to the pupils and staff.
- Denise johnston (Teacher & SDLP Councillor): Expressed her shock and sadness, describing the victim as a “lovely, lovely wee girl” from a tight-knit community.
What is the PSNI doing in response to the incident?
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) is actively investigating the collision. They have appealed to the public for any footage or information related to the incident, urging people to forward it thru the Major Incident Public Portal.
What is the Major Incident Public portal?
The Major Incident public portal is a website and application used by the Police Service of Northern Ireland for the Public to upload videos, photographs, and othre digital media that might potentially be relevant for active investigations.
How is the Castledawson Community Partnership involved?
The Castledawson Community Partnership is convening to address the community’s needs and provide support to the family and those affected by the tragedy. They aim to rally the community to offer assistance during this arduous time.
What other recent tragedies have impacted the area?
DUP Councillor Anne Forde noted that this tragedy comes a month after another young girl died following an incident in the Moyola River, which is near the crash scene. This has compounded the community’s grief.
The Education Authority (EA) has sent a specialist team to support the school. They extend their condolences and are providing emotional support to students and staff through their Critical Incident Response Team. The EA has requested that the family, school, and wider community be given time and space to grieve.
Key People and Organizations Involved
| Person/organization | Role/Involvement |
|---|---|
| Caitlin-Rose McMullan | The 12-year-old victim of the tragic incident. |
| St Pius X College | the school attended by the victim; providing support to students and staff. |
| paul Givan | Stormont Education Minister; offering condolences and coordinating support. |
| Denise Johnston | Teacher and SDLP Councillor; providing local insight and support. |
| Anne Forde | DUP Councillor; highlighting the community’s grief and need for support. |
| PSNI (Police Service of Northern Ireland) | Actively investigating the collision and appealing for public assistance. |
| Education Authority (EA) | Providing specialist support to the school and affected individuals. |
| Castledawson Community Partnership | Convening to address community needs and support the family. |