Horse trainer's daughter dies in farm tragedy
THE daughter of one of Ulster's top horse trainers has been killed after being crushed under heavy machinery at a farm.
Little Alison Torrens - aged eight - fell beneath a roller used to flatten the sand-based horse track on her father's land outside the village of Drumquin near Omagh, Co Tyrone.
Heartbreak
Distraught dad Mervyn Torrens, who has trained several winners, was with her at the time.
It happened as Mr Torrens was preparing gallops on his 65-acre estate at Willmount Road, Drumquin, 10 miles from Omagh.
Probe
Health and safety officials examined the scene as part of an investigation into the tragedy.
Noel Meade, chairman of the Irish Racehorse Trainers' Association, said: "It is an absolutely tragic accident."
Star
Alison, a pupil at the village's Langfield Primary School, won several prizes at horse riding events in Northern Ireland.
Her mother Anne is also involved with horses and has another younger daughter, Jennifer.
Mr Torrens is originally from Limavady, Co Londonderry, but moved to Cavan in the Irish Republic before building stables on land at Drumquin.
Since moving there he has had horses run at Cheltenham and done well at meetings in Downpatrick and Down Royal, Co Down.
Devastation
Langfield Primary school principal Ruth Moore said the community was in shock.
"The entire, closely-knit school community share in the pain of losing one of its valued pupils and our thoughts and prayers are with the family at this very difficult time," she said.
Fr Kevin Mullan, parish priest of St Patrick's in Drumquin, added the whole community was devastated.
"Our school St Joseph's Primary, had a link with her school and it's just heartbreaking for everybody."
Grief
DUP Northern Ireland Assembly member Thomas Buchanan, who lives a mile and a half from the family, said neighbours were pulling together to offer help and support.
He added: "That will be needed to get them through this very difficult time and also the weeks and the months and the years that are to come as they have to learn to live with this great loss."
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Monday 28 May 2012
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