County Monaghan

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At a glance

1 August 2023, 08:02 BSTUpdated 1 hour ago

There is shock and devastation after a car crash near the Irish border claimed the lives of two teenagers and left two Other People critically ill.

Two girls aged 16 and 17 died in the collision on the N54 road near Clones in County Monaghan on Monday evening.

Two Other People who were travelling in the same car - an 18-year-old woman and the 60-year-old Man who was driving - are in Critical Condition in hospital.

They were travelling to a debs Ball - a dance for teenage school-leavers.

A fifth person who was in The Vehicle - an 18-year-old Man - was also injured and is being treated at Cavan General Hospital for non-life threatening injuries.

The critically-injured women was also taken to Cavan General Hospital while The Driver of The Car was taken to The Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast.

It is understood the debs Ball was organised by Largy College in Clones, a Secondary School which has about 450 pupils.

The college opened on Monday night to provide support for the schoolmates of The Victims , according to Monaghan councillor Pat Treanor.

" It's an absolute horror that's unfolding here from Last Night ,” He Said .

" All these Young People were gathering on The Diamond in Clones to meet and head to the debs, with all the joy and the photographs and parents dropping them off.

" From that to about an hour later, hearing about this terrible tragedy, people are shocked and I suppose trying to come to terms with it. "

'Tight-knit community'

The Crash happened at about 18:45 local time on Monday at Legnakelly on the main road between Clones and Smithborough.

Monaghan councillor Richard Truell said people were reeling from The Tragedy .

" The News has shocked County Monaghan and the surrounding counties, " he told Bbc News NI.

" The close community is just numb, people have no words. "

Friends of The Victims who would have been expecting to meet them at the School Dance were being comforted by youth workers.

Mr Truell said the debs Ball was cancelled in The Aftermath of The Crash and a youth centre was Set Up in Clones to provide support to The Students .

" The families have to Pick Up the pieces now unfortunately and their friends are going to surely miss them, " He Said .

" It's a tight-knit community and they are going to have to rally around the families affected. "

'Meant to be night of celebration'

Laura Hogan, a reporter with Irish national broadcaster RTÉ, said the excitement of a school-leavers' dance had turned to devastation.

" A debs balls is supposed to be a night of great celebration, " she explained.

" It's a rite of passage for many students as they leave Secondary School behind them, as they celebrate their recently-completed exams, possibly preparing for The Next exciting chapters in their lives. "

Ms Hogan added that " in The Immediate aftermath of The Tragedy it's understood that support was being offered to those students late last evening".

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The debs event was hosted by the Westenra Arms Hotel in Monaghan town.

Its manager Gregory McGonigle told Bbc News NI that students had gathered in The Hotel for their meal when news of the fatalities started to reach them.

He Said The Event was then called off and buses were arranged to take The Students back to their school, to be met by their parents and teachers.

The Hotel posted a message of sympathy on its Facebook page.

" Our thoughts are also with all the community associated with Largy College and to all students who displayed great maturity and empathy upon hearing the tragic news, " it said.

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Source of news: bbc.com