Michael McElhatton one of two men detained on suspicion of manslaughter after three die

Police in Northern Ireland have arrested two men in connection with the crush outside a St Patrick’s Day disco that killed three teenagers.

Detectives detained the men, aged 40 and 52, on Tuesday afternoon on suspicion of manslaughter and brought them to a police station in Dungannon, County Tyrone, for questioning.

“They are currently in custody,” the Police Service of Northern Ireland said in a tweet.

PSNI (@PoliceServiceNI) AMENDMENT: Detectives from PSNI Major Investigation Team investigating the deaths of three teenagers at the Greenvale Hotel in Cookstown on Saint Patrick’s Day have arrested two men aged 52 and 40 earlier today on suspicion of manslaughter. They are currently in custody.

The 52-year-old man arrested is Michael McElhatton, the owner of the Greenvale Hotel in Cookstown, County Tyrone, where the crush took place, his spokeswoman has confirmed. It is understood the other suspect, 40, is a member of the nightspot’s door staff.

Lauren Bullock, 17, Morgan Barnard, 17, and Connor Currie, 16, died after pandemonium erupted outside the hotel on Sunday night. Up to 400 people were queueing to enter a disco when people started to fall in the densely packed crowd.

The death toll could have been much higher, DCS Raymond Murray told a press conference on Tuesday morning. “I think that we are fortunate, if that is the right word to use. In these circumstances, we are looking at three deaths ... Bad enough, a horrendous tragedy, but we could easily could be looking at more.”

Police have traced more than 160 witnesses and want others to come forward to help investigators understand how the tragedy unfolded. Officers were examining security camera footage and the planning and staffing of the event, he said.

Witnesses who were underage and trying to enter a licensed premises should not feel deterred from talking to detectives, Murray said, adding: “I want to reassure you, the focus of our investigation is not the age of people who were at the event; it is about trying to find answers for the families of the three teenagers who tragically died.”

Lauren, Connor and Morgan were killed and three others injured when there was a surge in the crowd waiting in cold, wet conditions to enter a door leading to a function room.

Condolence books opened in Belfast city hall and in other areas across Northern Ireland and flowers have been left outside Greenvale Hotel.

Fresh details of the crush have emerged. In a Facebook post Eimear Tallon described a festive atmosphere rapidly dissolving into terror. “It started with pushing and shoving but everyone was still laughing and having a good time. Then the literal crushing started.”

Two of Tallon’s friends fell and became trapped on the ground. “People were scratching, biting and grabbing anything they could to pull themselves up to breathe. I think that’s what really shows the seriousness of it all; people were literally fighting for their lives.”

Tallon fell and became wedged between bodies for what felt like “for ever” until others in the queue dragged her out. “I lay on the ground and opened my eyes. I remember seeing some motionless legs, a few socks and shoes and then I was pulled up and brought away.”

Relatives, friends and teachers have paid tribute to the three who died. Briege Parks, the aunt of Connor, the youngest victim, said his family was devastated. “[He was] a wee gentleman. I am so proud to be his aunt.”

Catherine McHugh, the principal of St Patrick’s College in Dungannon, called Lauren “a beautiful girl, a shining light in our school community”.