Mother of tragic student Jeni Larmour had just left her daughter in university halls of residence on Friday night - on Saturday morning she received phone call saying she was ‘unconscious’ before she passed away - police arrest 10 people

The mother of tragic Jeni Larmour had just settled her daughter into her new halls of residence in Newcastle days before her death.

It has emerged that Jeni’s mother - Sandra - had gone over to Newcastle with her and last saw her on Friday night, before returning home to Newtownhamilton.

On Saturday morning she then received the devastating phone call that her daughter was unconscious. Jeni subsequently passed away.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Newry and Armagh DUP MLA William Irwin has been speaking to Jeni’s family since the tragedy.

He said: “I was speaking to her uncle an hour ago. The whole area is devastated at what has happened.

“Jeni was a very clever student and had made the big move over to university.

“Her mother went over with her and last saw her on Friday night and everthing seemed okay. And then she got the news on Saturday that she was found unconscious and she subsequently passed away. It is a real tragedy”.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Mr Irwin added: “It is horrific for the family as she was a lovely young girl with all her life in front of her. My thoughts and prayers are with her mother and her family circle at this time. Words do not describe what they are going through.

The loss of a child is horrendous for any family. I want them to know that if there is anything I can do to help them I will”.

The Daily Mail are reporting that paramedics had rushed to Richardson Road in the city, where the Park View student village halls are located, early on Saturday morning. But Miss Larmour was found unconscious and pronounced dead at the scene, prompting a police investigation.

They say that officers are now probing the deaths of Miss Larmour, another 18-year-old female student from the same halls at Newcastle, a 21-year-old male student at Northumbria University, and an 18-year-old man, who was not a student, in nearby Washington.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Drugs are believed to have played a part in all four deaths.

Northumbria Police yesterday confirmed that 10 arrests had been made in relation to the deaths of four young people, three of them students, at the weekend.

Tributes have poured in online after the death of former Royal School Armagh pupil, Jeni Larmour.

A statement has also been made by Jeni’s former school. Royal School Armagh - where she was Deputy Head girl in 2019/20.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Principal Mr Graham Montgomery said: “It is with a profound sense of sadness and loss that the school community has learned of the sudden death of former Deputy Head Girl, Jeni Larmour.

“Jeni came to the Royal School in Year 8 and in the years that followed was a model pupil, exemplifying many of the values which this school seeks to promote.

“Her outstanding qualities as a pupil were recognised in her final year when she was appointed Deputy Head Girl, a role she carried out to a very high standard.

“It was Jeni’s ambition to attend the Royal School and she wasted none of the opportunities offered to her here.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Jeni threw herself enthusiastically into school life. She was part of the highly successful Combined Cadet Force ‘mil skills’ team and she worked closely with younger cadets to encourage them to develop their skills.

“Her capacity for encouraging others and showing leadership were evident when she was chosen for the important role of Student Leader at the Gordonstoun International Summer School in the summer of 2019.

“She was a highly valued member of the Chamber Choir and was blessed with a beautiful singing voice.

“She combined that beautiful voice and a brilliant sense of comic timing when she masterfully played the role of Madame de la Grande Bouche in the school production of Walt Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast”.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“In October 2019 Jeni was part of the school’s signature charity project, the ASHA team which spent ten days in the Trilok Puri slum in New Delhi.

“This trip required significant commitment and was the culmination of a year of fundraising activity by Jeni and the other team members.

“Jeni was a spirited and independently minded girl with clear views which she was happy to articulate in a respectful manner and she was possessed of a well developed sense of justice.

“Through her work on the School Council she was instrumental in promoting plans for the ‘greening’ of the school site through tree planting.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“We have no doubt, that given her academic ability and personality, Jeni had a bright future ahead of her and we are saddened that has been so suddenly cut short.

“We extend to her many friends, her family, brother and parents our sincerest sympathy at this tragic time and assure them of our prayers and practical support”.

Police said the family of the Newtownhamilton teenager, who had only moved to Newcastle-Upon-Tyne in August, were being supported at this very difficult time.

It has been reported that a spokesman for Northumbria Police said: “At 6.06am yesterday (Saturday) police received a report via the ambulance service of an unresponsive woman at an address on Richardson Road in Newcastle.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Emergency services attended where sadly the woman – aged 18 – was pronounced dead at the scene.

“Enquiries into the circumstances around her death are ongoing.

“Her next of kin have been informed and are being supported by officers at this time. An 18-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the incident and is currently on police bail while the investigation continues.

“The investigation is at an early stage but this is not believed to be Covid-19 related death.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

A spokesperson for Newcastle University – where Jeni was studying Architecture and Urban Planning – said: “We are shocked and saddened to learn of the death of one of our students and our welfare teams are offering support to those affected.”

On Facebook Paul Elliott posted: “Sending all my love to my cousin Sandra on the loss of her daughter Jeni.

“May God grant the strength needed to cope in such difficult circumstances.

“Pray without ceasing for the entire family circle.

“Peter 5:7

“Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you”.

Jeni’s friends have posted their shock and sadness on social media.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

One said: “Rest in peace gorgeous, taken too soon Jeni Larmour”.

Another said: “She will never be replaced in our cranfield gang❤️ Best there was”.

Another friend said: “Rip Jeni Larmour you’ll b missed takin too soon”.

Yet another friend posted: “Taken far too soon♥️ rest easy Jeni. Lovely girl. Heavens gained another angel Jeni Larmour”.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Others, who have been expressing their devastation at the news, described Jeni as “a beautiful young girl”.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Thank you for reading this story on our website.

While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers - and consequently the revenue we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Subscribe to newsletter.co.uk and enjoy unlimited access to the best Northern Irish and UK news and information online and on our app.

With a digital subscription, you can read more than five articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit www.newsletter.co.uk now to sign up.Our journalism costs money and we rely on advertising, print and digital revenues to help to support them.

By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.

Thank you,

Alistair Bushe

Related topics: