Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Child knocked down & killed outside home
Tot Christopher is knocked down close to his home
A TODDLER was killed yesterday after he was knocked down by a car.
Christopher Ward suffered fatal injuries in a heartbreaking accident in Bessbrook, Co Armagh.
It is understood the car was being driven by a relative.
Family members raced him to Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry, Co Down, but the child died shortly after 1pm.
Around 200 members of the Travelling community descended on the hospital to offer their support.
An onlooker said: “They were totally distraught when they heard that the wee lad hadn’t made it.”
SDLP Assembly Member Justin Mcnulty said the entire area had been left numbed by the news.
He told the Mirror: “The community is in shock, I’m in shock.
“It is something that would be any family, any parents’ worst nightmare. It’s a really heartbreaking incident.
“It’s a three-year-old boy and what can you say in such a situation. It’s just dreadful. My thoughts and sympathies are with the family and obviously with the deceased. Rest in Peace.”
Sinn Fein councillor Roisin Mulgrew added: “I spoke to the police and they had left the scene.
“Obviously it’s a very tragic accident and I would offer our condolences to the family who will now need their space to grieve. It is terribly sad.”
Ulster Unionist Councillor David Taylor also expressed his condolences.
He said: “This is a heartbreaking incident which has no doubt left his family distraught and has come as a great shock to the entire local community.
“My thoughts and prayers are with his family at this very sad time and I hope and trust they will find the necessary strength to cope with their grief over the difficult days which lie ahead.”
PSNI Inspector Denise Graham has appealed for anyone who witnessed the collision to contact officers in Newry by calling 101 quoting reference number 399 of 11/08/17.
They were distraught when they heard the boy didn’t make it SOURCE DAISY HILL HOSPITAL YESTERDAY