Three day inquest set for October

A THREE day inquest into the death of a mother and her three-year-old daughter following a collision near their family farm is due to take place over three days in October.

Clare Smyth and her three-year-old daughter Bethany sadly passed away following the incident involving a quad bike and a tractor in May, 2020.

The collision happened at Whitepark Road, Ballycastle.

On Monday, a Coroner told the preliminary hearing ahead of an inquest into the tragedy that she is "pleased with the progress" to date in gathering evidence and identifying witnesses.

Those at the hearing heard how a majority of the materials needed for the inquest to go ahead have been delivered.

Clare Smyth's, second daughter Hannah, then aged five, was seriously injured in the accident.

Her husband Ryan, who was near by when the accident happened, attended via video link the short hearing at Laganside in Belfast. The hearing proper into the deaths is listed for three days from October 13, with a further preliminary hearing due in September.