Quad bike death 'heart wrenching'
A COMMUNITY has been plunged into mourning following the "utterly heart wrenching" death of a 14-year-old schoolboy in Maghera.
Paddy McErlean was killed, and a 16-year-old friend critically injured, following a collision involving a quad bike on the Craigmore Road in the Co Londonderry town at around 10pm on Thursday. It is believed the quad was the only vehicle involved.
Paddy, a fourth year pupil at St Patrick's College in the town, is the 102nd person to die on Ulster's roads this year. This time last year 90 had perished on the roads and, in 2007, 92 had been killed.
The teenager is the middle son of three, whose father died three years ago.
His injured friend last night remained in a critical condition in the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast.
It is understood that the boys were travelling along the quiet, rural road – a short distance from Paddy McErlean's home – when they collided with a post and were both thrown from the quad bike.
Paddy's mother and two brothers were yesterday being comforted by relatives.
School principal Anne Scott told UTV Paddy had "contributed so much to the school", and described him as "full of life and full of energy."
She said the teenagers death "didn't seem real."
Speaking at the scene of Paddy's death to UTV, his aunt Bernadette McErlean said the family "was in bits", and added they would find it "very hard to come to terms" with his passing.
Maghera SDLP councillor Kathleen Lagan said she knew the McErlean family very well and described the boy's death as "utterly heart wrenching".
She said their family had suffered a lot of grief in the past, including the death of a cousin two years ago at the Castledawson roundabout.
"This is the most traumatic experience any parent, any person, can possibly go through and my heart goes out to the family," she said.
Yesterday children visited the scene of the crash where floral tributes have been laid.
"I know that the community, who hold the young boy and his family in such high esteem, will gather around and offer help or support during the tough times ahead," added Ms Lagan.
"It may be of little consolation to the family but it shows just how well they are thought of in the community."
Ms Lagan also said she hoped the other boy injured in the incident would make a speedy and full recovery.
Sinn Fein Councillor, Sean Kerr, who went to the scene of the accident on Thursday night, said his immediate thoughts were with the two families.
"One is facing an awful bereavement as they come up to Christmas, and then there is the other family, who are at the bedside of the young boy that was injured.
"I also think we need to think about the young people who were there at the time, it must have been a very traumatic experience for them," he said.
Last night Environment Minister Edwin Poots extended his sincere sympathy to the family of the young man who died and his wishes for the swift recovery of the teenager left critically injured
Maghera SDLP councillor Kathleen Lagan said she knew the McErlean family very well and described the boy’s death as “utterly heart-wrenching”.
She said their family had suffered a lot of grief in the past, including the death of a cousin two years ago at the Castledawson roundabout.
“This is the most traumatic experience any parent, any person, can possibly go through and my heart goes out to the family,” she said.
Yesterday children visited the scene of the crash where floral tributes have been laid
“I know that the community, who hold the young boy and his family in such high esteem, will gather around and offer help or support during the tough times ahead.
“It may be of little consolation to the family but it shows just how well they are thought of in the community.”
Ms Lagan also said she hoped the other boy injured in the incident would make a speedy and full recovery.
Sinn Fein Councillor, Sean Kerr, who went to the scene of the accident on Thursday night said his immediate thoughts were with the two families.
“One is facing an awful bereavement as they come up to Christmas, and then the other family, who are the bedside of the young boy that was injured.
“I also think we need to think about the young people who were there at the time, it must have been a very traumatic experience for them,” he said.
Last night Environment Minister Edwin Poots extended his sincere sympathy to the family of the young man who died and his wishes for the swift recovery of the teenager left critically injured.
He added that quads are not meant to be driven on roads without having a driving licence and insurance.
Mr Poots said that he would not “be a killjoy” and call for parents and grandparents not to buy quads for their children for Christmas.
“Quads should not be driven up and down roads in cities, towns and villages,” he said. “They can be great fun for children and teenagers if used responsibly and with supervision in a rural area, like a farm.”
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Weather for Belfast
Tuesday 14 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 6 C to 9 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: North west
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Temperature: 5 C to 10 C
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