First Minister urges young people affected by Maguiresbridge to ask for support
By Gráinne Ní Aodha and David Young, PA
First Minister Michelle O’Neill has urged young people affected by the shooting in Co Fermanagh to reach out and ask for support.
Tributes have been paid to Vanessa Whyte, 45, a government vet originally from Co Clare, and her two children, 14-year-old James and 13-year-old Sara.
They died on Wednesday in a “harrowing” incident in the Drummeer Road area of Maguiresbridge.
Ms O’Neill said that, as a mother and a grandmother, she cannot imagine how the family are coping with their loss.
I’m absolutely heartbroken by the news from Maguiresbridge today.
My thoughts are with the victims, their loved ones, and the local community.
I have no doubt that the people of Maguiresbridge will come together and support one another through this incredibly difficult time.— Michelle O’Neill (@moneillsf) July 23, 2025
She urged young people who were “acutely” affected by the incident to talk to their friends, mentors and family about how they are feeling.
“There isn’t a home here at this moment in time that isn’t thinking very much about this family and what they’ve went through,” she said speaking at Coalisland on Thursday afternoon.
“These are such tragic circumstances and we all need to reach out (to) each other.
“I would particularly say to those young people that knew James and Sara, to those young people that feel this really acutely, that they reach out for support and help and talk to their friends, talk to their mentors in the club, talk to their family.
“We all need to reach out for help at times, and this is one of those most difficult times that anybody will ever face.
“So I certainly encourage all young people to put your arm around each other and to reach out and ask for support if you’re struggling right now.
“This is a hard thing for anybody to come to terms with, not least any young person that is feeling this loss, because these were their friends.”
She said that she had spoken about how difficult the tragedy is to comprehend with local MP Pat Cullen.
“We’re both mummies and grandmothers, and you just wouldn’t even know where to start to pick up the pieces,” she said.
“I think that’s something that’s felt by every household that are watching on and are watching the story as it unfolds.”
She also expressed her gratitude to the emergency service workers who attended the scene of the Maguiresbridge tragedy on Wednesday.
“They must have the most difficult of jobs to be the first on the scenes of harrowing incidents as we’ve just seen in Maguiresbridge,” she said.
“So thank you for your service. Thank you for what you do, and we’re very much grateful for that.
“I hope that they too get the support that they need, because I would imagine even as professionals as they all will be in their job, they will all too need some support to deal with the aftermath of witnessing something as horrific as this.”
