Female Student Dies In Belfast Holylands

A Sinn Fein MLA has called for more support services for the student population following the death of a woman in Belfast's Holylands.

The female, who died suddenly in the Cromwell Road area, is the second student to lose their life in two weeks.

The Holylands area is largely populated by students attending university in the city. Many have flocked back to the south Belfast area in recent weeks as the new academic year gets underway.

Sinn Fein's Máirtín Ó Muilleoir expressed his condolences following the sudden death. He said: "My thoughts are with the family and friends of the young woman. This is a terrible tragedy and an unspeakable loss for her family and friends."

Mr Ó Muilleoir urged the two universities, Queen's University Belfast and Ulster University, to take emergency action and introduce new safeguarding measures.

"This second death of a student in the Holylands in two weeks should spur all those with a duty of care to our student population to look again at how they are fulfilling their responsibilities," he continued.

"I have spent much time in the Holylands and Lower Ormeau over the past ten days as students return to the area and am convinced much more must be done to ensure the wellbeing of our student body.

"Last week, after meeting Queen's University, Belfast to discuss the challenges surrounding the return of students, I urged the two big universities to convene an emergency forum on this issue. I reiterate that call today."

Just last week, the body of Niall Laverty was discovered inside a house on Palentine Street. The 19-year-old teenager had been studying at university in Belfast.



(JG/CM)