'If legislation had been put in place years ago, my daughter would still be here today'

The mother of a young girl from Co Derry who died after being struck by a car moments after she got off her school bus has welcomed news that progress is being made to make it illegal to overtake buses. 

Following the tragic death of her 11 year-old daughter Caitlin Rose McMullan in March last year, Stella McGinn has been campaigning for a change in the law.

She is pushing for legislation to be put in place which would make it illegal for drivers to overtake a bus which has stopped to pick up or let off passengers.

Caitlin Rose was struck by a car as she exited her school bus which had stopped on the Hillhead Road near Castledawson.

The St Pius X College pupil sadly died in hospital a short time later.

Stella, who launched her campaign last year, said she is pleased to learn that work on legislation is now progressing.

First Minister Michelle O’Neill announced the news on Friday stating: “Progress is being made to make it illegal to overtake school buses while children are getting on or off.

“I met with our Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins for an update on this vital work, and it was great to hear that the Minister is moving at pace to progress this law.

“Keeping children safe on our roads is a priority for Sinn Féin, and this would make us among the first in Europe to introduce this law.”

While Stella has welcomed the news, she also says it is ‘bittersweet’.

“It’s bittersweet for me.  If legislation had been put in place years ago, my daughter would still be here today,” she said.

“The good thing is that this legislation is progressing but it needs to be followed through and made law before another person loses their life.”

Stella says she would like to be there when the legislation does comes into effect.

“I have been pushing hard for this legislation since last year and I will not stop until it is in place. I would like to be there when this legislation is put in place and I would like to be acknowledged for the campaign that I began in memory of Caitlin Rose.  I’m sitting with an empty bedroom in an empty house but I have to keep fighting to save other people from going through the same thing.”

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SDLP councillor Denise Johnston has also welcomed the news in a video she posted online. 

“I am thinking very much of the parents of any child that has lost their lives or had life-changing injuries after disembarking from a school bus,” said the Moyola representative.

“And there are many of them out there whose lives are forever tainted with that tragedy and they live with that sadness.

“I am thinking of them as they will be relieved that no other child will go through what they are their family have had to go through, but there will also be a sadness that something like this was not in place to save the life of their child.

“I am also thinking very much of Stella McMullan who really pushed this (legislation) forward after the death of Caitlin Rose last year.

“We will keep applying the pressure to make sure this is delivered, sooner rather than later, because everything goes at a snail's pace and during that time other people can lose their lives.

“And we have had an elderly man who lost his life disembarking from a bus and another child who was seriously injured, so it is very important that this legislation is put in place as soon as possible.

“My thoughts and prayers are with those families who have lost a child in this manner, because there is nothing worse than losing your child,” she added.