Watch: 'I will never be the same again. I don’t even recognise myself now' - Grieving mum 'losing faith in Stormont' with no legislation yet in place

Stella McGinn, 41, from Castledawson in Co Londonderry says her life changed forever on March 5, 2025 when her 11-year-old daughter Caitlin-Rose McMullan passed away in hospital following a collision with a car on the Hillhead Road.

Stella says her daughter – a year 8 pupil at St Pius X College in Magherafelt – died after being hit by a car after exiting her school bus and she often ‘wonders how other people’s lives are all back to normal’.

The mother-of-two – who has not worked since Caitlin was killed – said she started appealing for bus safety ‘two weeks after my daughter was killed’.

“I spoke out so soon after her death and it took a lot out of me,” said Stella.

“I got a lot of backlash from people for speaking out so early on, they didn’t understand how I could do it so soon after burying a child.

“The only reason I did was to change the roads.

“I started the campaign two weeks after Caitlin passed away calling for legislation to be put in place to stop cars passing school buses when children are getting off.

“I think I was off my rocker with grief but the message hit home with people.

“And the fact that in 2026 there is nothing to keep children safe on our roads is beyond disgusting.

“There are rules in place for animals and cyclists on the road yet you don’t have it for vulnerable children.

“How can we accept that in this day and age?

“There is also the problem that every school uniform is dark when it needs reflectors because your child is at risk even walking to the bus in the dark’.

‘Patsy McGlone (SDLP MLA) asked in the assembly why the bus safety law was not in the mandate from June, but there was been no response.

“If it runs to the following June then we will have had an election again so the campaigning has to start again. I don’t think I have the energy for that.”

Now Stella says: “Caitlin-Rose’s friends are all turning 13-year-old which is bitter-sweet for me.

“She should be 13 now in April,” said Stella.

“Three friends of mine all had our babies a month apart, so I am now watching them celebrating their birthdays and I am being asked to come round to join them, but I can’t. No way.

“I couldn’t sit and watch them celebrating their birthday. It is too much.

“I need to put my own mental health first now.

“You see when I started the campaign for cars to stop when buses were slowing down to allow children off safely, I was numb. For the first seven months I was numb.

“I will never be the same again. I don’t even recognise myself now.

“I have been fighting for the past year.

“But I have got Shea and I am thankful for him every day.”

Stella took her campaign to Stormont last year in June, appealing for laws to be put in place.

“I stood on June 2 at Stormont and they told the nation that legislation was coming for bus safety and cars were not being allowed to overtake school buses,” she said.

“Now we are here in March 2026 and nothing has been done.

‘This June will be a full year since I stood at Stormont.

“And just last Friday I got a phone call from DFI telling me they are bringing out a ‘safety to school programme’ and they want me to be part of it.

“It took DFI a year to phone me. This is a programme of safety but not legislation.

“They want me to be part of the team and I said ‘absolutely’ because I know what needs to happen as I am the one living it,” added Stella.

“But at this minute and time I am losing faith with politicians at Stormont and in the promises they made not only to me but to the country.

“It takes so much energy for this and I am tired,” she added.

The Department for Infrastructure have been asked for a comment.

McNulty expresses disappointment at lack of timeline for school bus safety laws

Today in the Assembly (February 3) SDLP Opposition Infrastructure spokesperson Justin McNulty told of his disappointment at the Minister’s failure to outline a clear timeline for the introduction of school bus safety legislation.

He raised the vitally important issue with the Infrastructure Minister during questions in the Assembly on Tuesday.

In the Assembly, Mr McNulty also acknowledged the recent one-year anniversary of the passing of Caitlin Rose McMullan who lost her life departing a bus on her way home from school, and expressed heartfelt sympathy to all who have experienced loss on our roads.

Newry & Armagh MLA Justin McNulty said: “Last June the SDLP Opposition brought school bus safety campaigners, including bereaved families and medical professionals who have treated children injured in these incidents, to Stormont to back calls for legislation.

"The Infrastructure Minister met them and committed to bringing forward new laws.

“Since then, four more children and an elderly man have been involved in similar accidents, two of whom tragically lost their lives.

"While the Minister highlighted elements of the Safer Journeys to School programme, it was deeply disappointing that she could not commit to introducing legislation before the end of this mandate.

“The evidence is clear, prohibiting vehicles from overtaking stationary school buses while children are boarding or disembarking will save lives.

"There have been far too many deaths on our roads recently and the Minister and Executive should be doing everything possible to keep people safe.”

In a statement Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins said: “Following Caitlin Rose McMullan’s tragic death, I announced my intention to bring forward legislation to help protect children boarding and alighting from buses on their school journey.

"Road safety - and the safety of our school children - is a priority for me as Minister.

"My Department’s Safer Journeys to School programme is progressing at pace towards a comprehensive package of measures, including legislation.

"Work is underway preparing a consultation on the legislation. I will make an announcement in the coming weeks.”