 Two teenage girls who died in a car crash in the Republic of Ireland were best friends

 Kiea McCann, 17, and Dlava Mohamed, 16, were going to a school dance when they
died in County Monaghan
 Irish police said it happened after a vehicle left the road and collided with a tree
 Three others were taken to hospital; two of whom are in critical condition

 Published

1 August 2023, 08:02 BST

 Updated 1 hour ago

The two teenage girls who were killed on their way to an end-of-year school dance were best
friends, their families have said.

Kiea McCann, 17, and Dlava Mohamed, 16, died after the crash on Monday in County
Monaghan, near the Irish border.

Gardaí (Irish police) said the collision happened after a vehicle, which was carrying five
people, left the road and hit a tree.

Death notices for both girls described the deaths as untimely and said they would be sorely
missed by those who knew them.

BBC News NI understands Dlava's family moved to Ireland from Syria about seven years
ago.

Supt Patrick O'Connell described the incident as "particularly traumatic" for all involved.

Speaking outside Clones Garda Station on Tuesday evening, Supt O'Connell said the families
were at the scene on Monday night and were "suffering from shock and trauma".

"Having attended the scene last night, it was particularly harrowing, particularly the chaos
that emanates when such an incident happens," he added.

"The fire service, the ambulance service were particularly brilliant. Without them we
wouldn’t have been able to manage this incident."
Image source, PA Media
Image caption,

Supt Patrick O'Connell led a press conference on Tuesday evening

Five people were travelling in the car when it crashed on its way to a debutants' ball - a
dinner-dance event for school-leavers - at about 18:45.

The vehicle was driven by a 60-year-old man who was taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital
in Belfast where he remains in a critical condition.

An 18-year-old woman, believed to be Dlava's sister, was taken to Cavan General Hospital
where she is in a critical but stable condition.

An 18-year-old man continues to be treated at the same hospital for non-life-threatening

injuries.

The main road between Clones and Smithborough has reopened after the vehicle was
removed from the scene earlier on Tuesday.

Gardaí (Irish police) have appealed to witnesses or those with dash-cam footage to contact
them.

Their focus at this stage is on supporting the families and community, Supt O'Connell added.

A senior investigating officer has been appointed and a number of other previous crashes on
the same road will help to form part of the investigation.
Image source, Philip Fitzpatrick
Image caption,

Gardai (Irish police) closed the road while they investigated the crash

Earlier, the principal of Largy College in Clones said the school's staff and pupils were in
"deep shock" over the girls' deaths.

The end-of-year "debs" ball was organised by the secondary school, which has about 450
pupils.

Principal Sharon 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."
She said the school's priority was the welfare of its students, their parents and teaching staff.

"The Largy College critical incident team has met to coordinate a response and to enact the
critical incident plan," added Ms Magennis.