Northern Ireland

Police name woman killed in Ballymena crash

The crash happened on the Cushendall Road

Police are investigating the crash
Police are investigating the crash (Niall Carson/PA)

A woman who died in a road crash in Co Antrim has been named by police.

Eileen Thornton, 44, died in a single-vehicle collision on the Cushendall Road outside Ballymena on Tuesday evening.

The tragedy is the second death on Northern Ireland’s roads this week.

PSNI Inspector Cherith Adair said: ”Officers attended the scene along with our colleagues from the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service, however Eileen sadly passed away later in hospital.

”Our thoughts are with the family at this time and an investigation is now underway to establish the circumstances.”

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“The Collision Investigation Unit is appealing to anyone who may have any information which may assist with our investigation, or who may have been travelling in the area at the time and captured any dash-cam or other footage, to get in touch on 101, quoting reference number 1515 03/09/24.”



Tributes have been posted online to the victim, with many people writing of the shock and devastation following her tragic death.

One friend wrote: “Devastating news to hear, I’ve known her for years thoughts are with her father Davy and her brothers Gregory and Garth and the rest of the family circle rest in peace Eileen”.

Another said: “Devastating news to hear, can’t take it in I’ve known her since she was a wee girl, I lived beside her. Thinking of all the family and family circle at such a tragic time.”

UUP councillor Alan Barr said: “Within a 24 hour period, we are wakening up to another tragedy on our roads.

“My thoughts and prayers are with the woman’s family, friends and the emergency services who attended the scene.”