Principal pays tribute to ‘beautiful best friends’ killed in Clones crash

The principal of a Co Monaghan secondary college has paid tribute to the 2 “lovely women” and “greatest associates” who have been killed in a automotive crash whereas travelling to a Debs ball.

Seventeen-year-old Kiea McCann and Dalava Mohammed, 16, died when the automotive they have been travelling in left the N54 and crashed right into a tree along with the highway, simply exterior Clones.

Largy Faculty principal Sharon Magennis stated Dalava had simply accomplished her Junior Certificates and was due to enter transition yr.

Talking to RTE’s Morning Eire, she stated: “Dalava might be an enormous loss to our college group.

“Dalava was at all times smiling, she was beautiful, so loyal and bubbly, and she or he was at all times very joyful.

“She actually had a goodness and she or he was simply filled with power.”

Ms Magennis stated Kiea had accomplished the Leaving Certificates Utilized programme.

“Kiea was nice and courteous,” she stated.

“She had a terrific love of kids and she or he had hoped to go on to review childcare at third stage, and now that may be a dream that may simply not be realised.”

She stated each women have been “completely integral” to the college group.

“We’re simply heartbroken right now.”

Ms Magennis stated the 2 women had been “greatest associates” since Dalava arrived in Clones as a part of a resettlement programme for Syrians.

“Phrases can’t describe how our college, our group of Clones is feeling right now.”

The principal stated taking college students again from the Debs occasion into the college after the crash have been the toughest minutes of her profession.

“It was only a scene of utter heartbreak and devastation,” she stated.

The victims’ households are stated to be “vastly devastated” and affected by shock within the aftermath of the crash, wherein the three different occupants of the automotive have been injured.

An 18-year-old girl is in a crucial however steady situation at Cavan Common Hospital, whereas a 60-year-old man stays in a crucial situation at Belfast’s Royal Victoria Hospital.

An 18-year-old man suffered non life-threatening accidents.

The scene on the N54 Clones to Smithborough highway at Legnakelly was closed within the 24 hours after the crash for forensic examination, however reopened on Tuesday night.

On Tuesday evening, a guard of honour was held in Clones for Kiea.

As her physique was taken from a funeral residence in Monaghan city to Clones, a whole lot of individuals from the area people stood in Monaghan Road and within the city sq., The Diamond, as a mark of help for the household.

A cortege of bikes and vehicles adopted the hearse carrying the white coffin because it moved slowly by means of the city, stopping briefly exterior a house the place it’s understood kin of Dalava dwell.

A few of these within the crowd wept and consoled one another because the hearse handed by.

Talking at Clones Garda Station on Tuesday, Superintendent Patrick O’Connell stated members of the victims’ households visited the scene on Monday evening.

“(They’re) affected by shock and trauma. They have been on the scene final evening, in order that they’re attempting to cope with the entire aftermath of that, and we’re there to attempt to help them.

“We’ve household liaison officers appointed and we’ll proceed over the times and weeks coming to try this,” he stated, asking that the households’ privateness be revered.

Mr O’Connell added that gardai and the victims’ kin are “eternally grateful” to members of the general public who stopped to supply their assist on the scene of the crash.

He additionally thanked the “good” emergency companies who attended the “harrowing scene” on Monday evening.

“This was a very traumatic incident for everybody concerned and I want to acknowledge and thank the entire first responders who labored intently collectively – notably members of An Garda Siochana, members of the ambulance and fireplace service, the hospital workers, and certainly members of the general public who stopped to render help,” he stated.

Mr O’Connell stated a senior investigating officer has been appointed and a case convention has been held at Monaghan Garda Station, however he couldn’t give particulars of the main focus of their inquiries.

“We’re interesting for info and our major concern in the intervening time is to help the households of these affected. However our investigation will progress at tempo,” he stated.

Gardai are interesting to individuals who witnessed or have footage of the incident, which occurred on a stretch of the N54 between Clones and Smithborough on Monday between 6.15pm and 7pm, to get in contact with Gardai.