‘Profound Loss’ as Driver Killed in School Bus Crash; Tributes Paid to ‘Respected’ Man After 40 Children Escape Unharmed
Belleeks, County Armagh, Northern Ireland – A school bus driver tragically died on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, after a crash near Belleeks in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. The driver was transporting approximately 40 students from St. Paul’s High School in Bessbrook when the vehicle left the Tullyah Road and ended up in a ditch. Remarkably, none of the students sustained serious injuries.
Details of the Incident
Emergency services responded to the “significant incident” shortly after 3:30 PM GMT on the Tullyah Road, located between Newtownhamilton and Camlough. Five ambulances, two advanced paramedics, an ambulance doctor, and fire service personnel were dispatched to the scene. The Tullyah Road was temporarily closed but has since reopened to traffic. BBC News reports that the bus was a private hire vehicle traveling from St. Paul’s High School towards Whitecross.
Driver Identified, Tributes Pour In
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) confirmed the death of the bus driver. RTÉ identified the driver as a respected and experienced member of Quinn Coaches, the company operating the bus. Quinn Coaches expressed their deep sorrow, stating their thoughts were with the driver’s family, friends, and colleagues. “He was a respected and experienced member of our team, and he will be greatly missed,” the company posted on social media.
Students Safe, Support Offered
Dáithí Murray, principal of St. Paul’s High School, confirmed that all students involved were safe and had been collected by their parents. He acknowledged the “significant shock” the incident would cause the pupils and announced that the school had contacted the Education Authority’s Critical Incident Response Team to provide support. RTÉ reports that the school is encouraging students who feel well enough to attend school on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, where staff will be available to connect them with support services.
Community Response
SDLP MLA for Newry and Armagh, Justin McNulty, expressed relief that the children escaped without serious injury, stating, “It could have been much more serious.” Aoife Finnegan, another MLA for the area, echoed this sentiment, thanking the emergency services for their swift response and requesting privacy for those affected. Armaghi.com reported on the community’s response and the ongoing road closure.
Ongoing Investigation
Authorities are continuing to investigate the cause of the crash. No further details regarding the investigation have been released at this time.