School Bus Driver Dies After Vehicle Carrying St. Paul’s High School Pupils Crashes in County Armagh

A school bus driver tragically died on Tuesday after a crash in Belleeks, County Armagh, Northern Ireland, while transporting pupils from St. Paul’s High School in Bessbrook. None of the approximately 40 children on board sustained serious injuries, but the incident has deeply affected the local community.

Details of the Crash

The crash occurred on the Tullyah Road, between Newtownhamilton and Camlough. Police responded to the scene and confirmed the driver’s death. The bus, operated by Quinn Coaches, left the road and ended up in a ditch BBC News.

Response from St. Paul’s High School

Dáithí Murray, principal of St. Paul’s High School, informed parents that all pupils involved were safe and had been collected. He acknowledged the “significant shock” the incident would cause to the students and announced that the school had contacted the Education Authority’s Critical Incident Response Team to provide support RTÉ.

Mr. Murray encouraged students who felt well enough to attend school on Wednesday, where staff would be available to connect them with support services. The school extended its thoughts and prayers to all affected by the “serious incident” Irish Examiner.

Tributes to the Driver

Quinn Coaches expressed their deep sorrow over the loss of their colleague, describing him as a “respected and experienced member of our team” who would be “greatly missed.” The company stated that the driver had sadly passed away despite immediate emergency response RTÉ.

Community and Authority Response

SDLP MLA for Newry and Armagh, Justin McNulty, described the situation as “miraculous” that the children escaped with minor injuries. He emphasized the importance of providing support to the students and the driver’s family, noting the “deep sadness” felt throughout the community RTÉ.

The Education Authority confirmed it was providing critical incident management support to the school and extended its thoughts to those impacted BBC News.

Road Reopening and Investigation

The Tullyah Road was temporarily closed following the crash but has since reopened. Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident BBC News.