Police Ombudsman launches criminal investigation into death of Shannon McGuillan
THE Police Ombudsman has launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of 19-year-old Shannon McQuillan, who was killed in a road crash in Toome.
A spokesman confirmed that after considering the information gathered so far, the team “have decided that our investigation into the circumstances connected to Shannon’s death should be a criminal one”.
The law student from Dunloy died after being knocked down by a van on the Moneynick Road on 20 January. Her 21-year-old boyfriend Owen McFerran from Ballymoney also sustained very serious injuries.
She had slipped on ice and hit her head while on a night out in Magherafelt and had been in an ambulance just before the fatal collision.
The Police Ombudsman had been looking into what interaction she and her boyfriend had with officers in the area of Secrets nightclub and on the Moneynick Road where they were knocked down.
The ambulance service also launched an internal review into the case.
Miss McQuillan’s father said in a statement through his lawyers that the family had recently learned that the Police Ombudsman had decided to progress their initial inquiries and begin a criminal investigation.
He added he will await the outcome of this phase of the investigation and allow due process to run its course.
Tags: