PSNI blunders slammed by heartbroken family of teen killed in crash: ‘She would still be here today’

Shannon McQuillan (19) and her boyfriend Owen McFerran (21) were struck by the vehicle after three police officers, a paramedic and a trainee emergency technician left them alone at a bus shelter near Magherafelt.

Ms McQuillan, who had been injured in an earlier incident, died and Mr McFerran sustained life-changing injuries in the collision in the early hours of January 20, 2018.

A damning Police Ombudsman report found that the PSNI officers had failed in their duty of care.

It said officers failed to "complete even the most basic checks" on the couple, recognise the "vulnerability and risks" of leaving the two alone together near a road and did not safeguard their welfare.

"More should have been done in this case to protect the extremely vulnerable young woman and man from harm," the Police Ombudsman's chief executive, Hugh Hume, said.

"The police response was wholly inadequate, and a Police Misconduct Panel supported the Ombudsman's evidence that there had been a failure of professional duty."

A senior PSNI officer apologised for the failings. Assistant Chief Constable Anthony McNally said: "We accept that more could and should have been done by police to prevent the circumstances that preceded Shannon's death and Owen's injuries. For that, we are truly sorry."

But Shannon's mother Collette said: "If the Ambulance Service and police had done the proper job that night, Shannon would still be here today.

"They failed in their duty of care to Shannon in every way they possibly could have.

Because, if they had done what they were supposed to do, she would be here today."

The Police Ombudsman called for a new policy to be put in place between the PSNI and the NI Ambulance Service to deal with people who are intoxicated and refuse medical treatment.

(Left to right) Charlene, Collette and Paul McQuillan with lawyer Barry O'Donnell outside the Police Ombudsman in Belfast on the 5th August 2025 (Photo by Gabrielle Swan)

Shannon's sister, Charlene, said her family believes that if this legislation had been in place in 2018, then "Shannon would still be with us today".

"I just miss my sister, and I want to thank the bystanders who took great concern for Shannon's welfare that night," she said. "Instead of the people on duty, who maybe should have.

"So thanks to those active bystanders, who rang the police, who took action."

Shannon's father, Paul, said his family has been through seven and a half years of turmoil.

"It hasn't been easy, it never will be easy, you never forget about a daughter," he said.

"I am really disgusted and ashamed of the behaviour of the Police Service of Northern Ireland on the night in question.

"How could they leave a 19-year-old girl who was drunk, who had a head injury, who was dressed for a nightclub, at half three in the morning in a lay-by and her freezing cold.

"Shannon was not aggressive or anything, never was."

Shannon McQuillan (19) with her boyfriend Owen McFerran (21), who was badly injured.

News Catch Up - Tuesday 5th August

Ms McQuillan, a law student, had been out in Magherafelt with her boyfriend on the evening of January 19, 2018.

Shortly before 2am the next morning, she suffered a head injury after a fall in a car park outside a nightclub. She also had injuries on her leg.

An ambulance was then called for the unconscious student to take her to Antrim Area Hospital. Three police officers attended the scene.

Officers at the scene called Ms McQuillan's mother to tell her she was being taken to hospital.

After the patient became erratic, the same officers were called by medical staff.

It was agreed that officers would follow the ambulance to the roundabout in Magherafelt.

Shortly before 3am, the ambulance pulled into a bus layby in the Moneynick Road area near Toome.

Medics on board once again called police for assistance after Ms McQuillan became aggressive with staff and Mr McFerran. She had also reportedly tried to harm herself.

Two of the officers who were called to the scene had body-worn video (BWV) cameras, though neither of them had them turned on while speaking with Ms McQuillan and Mr McFerran.

One medic told Ombudsman investigators that it had been the police who told the couple to leave the ambulance and to call a family member for a lift home.

After a discussion with the medical team and PSNI officers, the couple got out of the vehicle and were left alone at the isolated bus stop.

At 3.40am, after receiving calls that two people were walking along the road, a motorist informed police that he had hit two people on the same road.

Emergency services attended, and Ms McQuillan was pronounced dead at the scene. Mr McFerran sustained life-changing injuries.

"This tragic case demonstrates the absolute need for effective and well-understood joint protocols between the PSNI and the NIAS"

The family of Ms McQuillan maintain that due to her vulnerable state, her consumption of alcohol, her head injury and the isolated location, police had the power to arrest her for her own safety.

One officer received a written warning for gross misconduct after the incident, while another was disciplined for breaching the PSNI's Code of Ethics after the Police Ombudsman investigation.

Another officer, initially dismissed for gross misconduct, had appealed the decision.

While an aspect of the appeal was upheld, with a hearing with a fresh panel due to take place in June 2024, it would be delayed due to the officer's poor health.

She passed away earlier this year before a new trail could be heard.

Mr Hume added: "Safeguarding vulnerable people in an operational environment is an important and frequent role for first responders.

"Ineffective or ill-informed decisions can, as in this case, have dreadful and far-reaching consequences.

"It is therefore essential that police officers and all front-line partners work together smoothly and efficiently to minimise the risk to those whose judgment and health appear impaired.

"This tragic case therefore demonstrates the absolute need for effective and well-understood joint protocols between the PSNI and the NIAS to deal with such circumstances.

"Frontline staff must recognise their collective professional duty of care, and they should be supported in their responsibilities by agreed inter-agency professional practice."

Assistant Chief Constable McNally said: "Our thoughts today are very much with everyone who has been affected by this awful and tragic incident.

"We recognise that this will again be a particularly difficult day for Shannon McQuillan's family, Owen and his family.

"We also recognise the impact that this incident had and continues to have on our officers and their families."

He added: "We will now take further time to carefully consider the Ombudsman's report and assure ourselves that lessons have been learnt, particularly around the identification of vulnerability, risk assessment and adherence to service policy."