Formal celebrations 'turned into worst nightmare' after two girls killed in crash

An Irish Government minister said a secondary school "Debs" celebration in Co Monaghan turned into the "worst possible nightmare" after two teenage girls were killed in a crash.

Three other people were taken to hospital, two of them in a critical condition, after the incident on the N54 Clones to Smithborough road at Legnakelly at around 6.45pm on Monday.

All five were travelling in the same car.

Gardai said the bodies of the two girls, aged 16 and 17, were taken to Monaghan General Hospital, with post-mortem examinations due to take place on Tuesday.

An 18-year-old woman and the 60-year-old male driver of the car are in a critical condition in hospital, while an 18-year-old man is receiving treatment for non-life-threatening injuries.

The two 18-year-olds were taken to Cavan General Hospital for treatment, and the 60-year-old man was taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast.

The road was closed overnight.

Principal Sharon Magennis has expressed "deepest sympathies" to the families and friends of the two girls killed in the crash.

In a statement, Ms Magennis said: "It is with profound sadness and grief that we have learned about the devastating accident that resulted in the untimely and tragic loss of two cherished members of our school community."

"We extend our deepest sympathies to the families and friends who have tragically lost loved ones."

"The other individuals involved in the accident also remain in our thoughts and prayers at this time."

"We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the emergency services and Gardai who responded swiftly to the incident."

"Our priority now is the wellbeing and welfare of the students, parents and staff at this difficult time."

"The Largy College Critical Incident Team has met to co-ordinate a response and to enact the Critical Incident Plan."

Social protection minister Heather Humphreys, who is from Co Monaghan, said the crash was "an unimaginable tragedy".

"This was a Debs night for Largy College. It should have been a nice celebration and a kind of coming of age for these young people, and it's just turned into their families' worst possible nightmare."

She told RTE radio that Largy College, Cavan-Monaghan ETB and the Clones Youth Centre will be providing support to students.

Ms Humphreys said: "This is just awful news for so, so many families, you know, young people to see their friends cut off at such a young, young age. It's just heart-breaking."

She added: "None of us ever know what's around the corner. I know a lot of parents across the country will hear this news today and I know that they're holding their children extra tight because it's really every parent's worst nightmare."

Local Sinn Fein councillor Pat Treanor expressed "sincere sympathy" to the families involved on behalf of the local community.

"Its an absolute horror that's unfolding from yesterday evening, heart-breaking for everyone who lives in the area."

Mr Treanor, who lives a mile away from the crash site, said he witnessed the Debs preparations.

Speaking to RTE's Morning Ireland, he said: "When I was leaving work, I would have witnessed all of the young people gathering on The Diamond for their Debs, all excited, all getting the photos, meeting their friends."

"But then, about an hour later, there were helicopters in the air, there were sirens of ambulances, and the sad messages started coming through that there had been a serious accident out the Monaghan road out of Clones, and that went on all night really."

He said there was a "numb silence waiting on the most traumatic news" within the community."

Speaking on the same programme, foreign affairs minister Sean Fleming said: "It's the saddest news any family or any parents could ever receive, to see that their children were heading out, really on a rite of passage, and heading on hopefully to third-level education or employment in the immediate future, everything in front of them, and this tragic accident happened.

"It's a shock, it's a pain, the community will be strong, the community will stand together, they will support each other."

"But that loss will be with that family and that community for the rest of their lives."

Sinn Fein TD Louise O'Reilly told RTE that the community will "rally around" affected families.

"But it's absolutely heart-breaking, devastating news for their families, for their loved ones and for the community and for everyone in Monaghan," she said.

Local councillor Richard Truell told the PA news agency: "It's tragic, the community is shocked.

"We can't get our heads around what's happened because two young lives have been lost."

"Our thoughts and prayers have to go to their families."

Cavan-Monaghan TD Matt Carthy said it was "horrendous, heart-wrenching" news and that the prayers of everyone in Co Monaghan are with the families affected."

"A moment of joy and celebration for these young people has turned into a lifetime of devastation for those who loved them," he said on Twitter.