Shared Grief and a Common Cause
The profound grief experienced by Bobb Hogg and Stella McGinn's families reveals a heartbreaking connection neither would have wished for. Both families lost daughters named Caitlin-Rose and Caitlin, respectively, who tragically died after boarding their school buses and never returning home.
Although the incidents occurred two years apart and in different regions of Northern Ireland, the circumstances bear a striking resemblance. Both girls were fatally struck by vehicles while disembarking from school buses.
Beyond their shared sorrow, the families have joined forces to advocate for legislative reforms aimed at enhancing school bus safety throughout Northern Ireland.
Currently, no legal obligation exists anywhere in the UK requiring other vehicles to stop when a school bus is loading or unloading passengers.
On Thursday, the Department for Infrastructure at Stormont initiated a public consultation to gather opinions on proposed legal amendments intended to bolster the safety of children traveling to and from school by bus.
Among the proposals by Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins is a ban on overtaking stationary school buses.
Last year, Mid Ulster Council adopted a motion urging changes to bus safety laws. SDLP councillor Denise Johnston has supported families campaigning for these reforms.
"It's positive to see some progress around the law changes, but we now need to get it over the line," she said.
Caitlin-Rose's Story
Caitlin-Rose McMullan was 11 years old when she died in March 2025 after being hit by a car while getting off her school bus just meters from her home in Castledawson, County Londonderry.
NI previously spoke with her mother, Stella McGinn, about the lasting impact of her daughter's death one year later.
"It is about time that there was some progress in improving bus safety laws, but change needs to happen urgently before more families experience unimaginable pain," Stella said.
"Things are still horrendous for me, her first anniversary just passed and that was really hard, I can't come to terms with the fact she's not coming home," she added.
"I don't want any other family to ever have to feel like this.
"We've just had Mother's Day, it'll be her birthday coming up next, every milestone is awful, my daughter should have come home to me that day."
Caitlin's Story
Caitlin Hogg was 13 years old when she was fatally struck by a car in December 2022 after disembarking her school bus in County Fermanagh.
Her father, Bob, described the community in Kinawley as stunned by her death.
"She was our firstborn, the eldest of four and she was full of life and vibrancy and had such a positive influence on anyone she interacted with and had so much ahead of her in life."
Bob expressed cautious optimism about the consultation but emphasized the importance of follow-through.
"It's about more than the legislation, it's the awareness. The public need to have the context as to why this legislation is being introduced."
Following Caitlin's death, Bob and his wife Rosemary contacted politicians to raise concerns about bus safety.
"We wanted to see if there was an opportunity to bring some level of legislation in regarding school buses. In America and Canada, not only is it law, but it's engrained in the culture. So we felt that surely there's something that can be done."
"And then about two years after Caitlin's accident we heard the news of little Caitlin-Rose McMullan.
"It was very shocking to hear that the same thing had happened, an identical incident, where a young girl had disembarked a school bus and had lost her life in the same way."
In the aftermath, Bob reached out to Stella McGinn, and both families have since collaborated to lobby for legislative change.
Proposed Legal Changes
On Thursday, the Department for Infrastructure outlined its preferred options for legal amendments aimed at improving bus safety.
These include making it illegal to overtake a stationary school bus under clearly defined dangerous circumstances.
Police data indicates that since 2020, nearly 700 young people aged between four and 18 have been killed or seriously injured on Northern Ireland's roads during school term time.
Liz Kimmins highlighted that recent tragic incidents involving children have underscored the risks associated with passengers boarding or alighting from buses.
The consultation will remain open until May 21 and represents an initial step before the proposed laws are reviewed by Stormont committees and debated in the Northern Ireland Assembly.
With an assembly election scheduled for May next year, there is a limited window for ministers to ensure the legislation is enacted.
Stella McGinn expressed frustration at the pace of progress and emphasized the urgency of passing improved bus safety laws within the current assembly mandate.
"To be honest I had expected it to already be done, so for me, it has to be done before the next election it's as simple as that, there's not another option.
"Because I honestly believe more children will die if these law changes aren't put in place, so I will continue to fight until it's done."
When asked if the proposed laws could be passed before the next election, Kimmins responded:
"It's secondary legislation so it doesn't require the same lengthy process as primary legislation does but I just hope people recognise how important this is.
"I'm confident we can do it and I hope with the will of everyone involved, we can do this sooner rather than later."
Bob Hogg stressed the importance of maintaining momentum.
"I'm conscious that there's an election next year so there's limited time and for us and I'm sure for other families, it's so critical that this legislation is implemented. As soon as possible."
