Mum of Co Derry schoolgirl killed getting off bus calls on public to respond to consultation

The heartbroken mother of a County Derry schoolgirl who died after being struck by a car moments after getting off her school bus is calling on the public to get behind a consultation on overtaking and passing buses. 

The Safer Journeys to School consultation, which was launched earlier today by Department for Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins, is seeking views on a proposed approach to improving safety when passengers, particularly children, are getting on or off buses.

The consultation, which closes on May 21 2026, sets out a preferred proposal, alongside a range of options for further development, It focuses on improving safety for children and other vulnerable passengers when they are boarding or alighting from buses, and immediately afterwards, when risk can be heightened.

Calling on people to give their views on the consultation, the Minister said: “This is an important day and an important step forward to prohibit overtaking buses to protect our children. I want to commend the strength and determination of the parents who have lost children this way who have campaigned for this.”

Castledawson mum Stella McGinn lost her 11 year-old daughter Caitlin Rose McMullan in March 2025 after she was struck by a vehicle a short time after she exited her school bus.

Caitlin Rose, who was a year eight student at St Pius X College in Magherafelt, died a short time later in hospital.

Stella, who has been campaigning for the introduction of legislation which would make it illegal to overtake a stationary bus, has tonight called on people to make their voices heard in an effort to prevent further tragedies.

“Everybody needs to get behind this consultation, everybody needs to interact with it.  Grieving parents need to come out and find the strength to say ‘this is what we need'. We need to work together as a country.  It needs to be done right so people really need to give their input,” she said.

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While Stella is happy the consultation has been launched she wants to see continued progress being made on the introduction of the legislation.

“It’s (the consultation) is a long time coming.  Last June I was in Stormont and they spoke about getting legislation passed then so I am glad this consultation has now come out.  Stormont will finish for summer recess soon though and then we are into a new school term and if it’s not passed by early next year then we are into a new election and we’ll have to start from the start again, that’s my concern,” she continued.

Stella said the safety of school children should be the department’s key focus.

“This is what we are fighting for - the safety of children,” she said.

“Obviously I’m not getting Caitlin Rose back but this is about the safety of the other children coming through.  We will have new year eights starting in September, coming out of primary school into secondary school, and this needs to be addressed as soon as possible.

“We need legislation put in place and I’m expecting it to be put in place.  There needs to be no more stalling on it.  I think the Minister (Liz Kimmins) wants it.  Her intentions are real so we need to get the ball rolling and we need to be full steam ahead from now on, that’s why I am appealing to people to give their feedback as part of this consultation.

“I want people to speak out - this is the time now to come out and say what you would like changed.  It’s rural areas where people are getting killed, not in towns, so it affects a lot of people.

“I know a lot of parents are going to say that it doesn’t suit them for their child to get off a school bus at a different location but if you’re sitting where I am sitting today, it would suit you.  If you were in my position today you would do anything in the world to get your child back again.

“How many more kids have to die before we have a law put in place?”

You can respond to the public consultation here