Greenvale Hotel tragedy manslaughter case mentioned in court

A case involving manslaughter charges over the deaths of three teenagers outside a St Patrick’s Day disco more than three years ago has been mentioned in court for the first time.

A district court judge said there was a “lot of documentation involved” in the case against hotel owner Michael McElhatton, 55, and a self-employed member of security staff, Seamus Mitchell, 44.

Connor Currie, 16, and 17-year-olds Lauren Bullock and Morgan Barnard died in a fatal crush as hundreds queued at the doors of the Greenvale Hotel, in Cookstown, Co Tyrone, for a disco on March 17 2019.

Earlier this year, Northern Ireland’s Public Prosecution Service (PPS) said McElhatton of Rock Road, Moneymore, and Mitchell of Mullan Road, Coagh, were to be charged with three counts of gross negligence manslaughter.

McElhatton is also accused of failing to ensure that persons not in his employment were not exposed to risk.

Mitchell is accused of being a self-employed person who failed to ensure persons were not exposed to risk.

During a brief mention in Dungannon Magistrates’ Court, district judge Peter Magill said: “The matter isn’t going forward as a PE (preliminary enquiry) today.

“This is a substantial case. There is a lot of documentation involved.”

The case was adjourned for an update on January 27.