Four young lives lost: Armagh inquest hears of horrific Ballynahonemore Road collision

An inquest has opened into the deaths of four young people killed in a single-vehicle collision on the Ballynahonemore Road in Armagh.

Philip Mitchell, 27, Keith Morrison, 22, Emma Mallon, also 22, and 24-year-old Marina Crilly died after the crash during the early hours of Sunday, March 24, 2024.

The hearing began in Banbridge on Monday morning, where Coroner Anne Louise Toal described the deaths as “an absolute tragedy”.

Passersby praised for emergency help

A police constable wept while describing the scene of what was described as an horrific collision. Passersby were praised for their “incredible” efforts to administer CPR and help those involved before emergency services arrived.

The account heard by the inquest highlighted the actions taken by members of the public in the immediate aftermath of the crash, before emergency crews reached the scene.

Families remember the four who died

During the opening of the inquest, the parents of the four young people shared memories of their sons and daughters. Some recalled the last moments they had spoken to them and described how their lives had been forever changed by the collision.

The proceedings concern the deaths of Mitchell, Morrison, Mallon and Crilly following the Ballynahonemore Road crash. The supplied report does not state the outcome of the inquest or give details of any further hearing dates.