Funeral details for Monaghan crash victims announced

On Monday night, it was confirmed that teenagers Kiea McCann and Dalava Mohammed had died after the car they were travelling in left the N54 and crashed into a tree. The pair were being driven to their debs at the time.

The faces of the teenagers have flooded every news outlet since their death was announced, with an outpouring of grief coming from Clones, County Monaghan, the girls' hometown.

Two other teenagers were hospitalised due to the crash - Dlava’s sister Auin (18) and Oisín Clerkin (18). Driver of the car, 60-year-old Anthony McGinn, is said to be in critical condition.

Funerals for both Kiea and Dalava will take place tomorrow, Thursday, August 3.

Dlava will be returned to her family home in the Diamond Clones at 7pm this evening, with her funeral service taking place at 10am tomorrow morning at the Clonskeagh Mosque & Culture Centre in Dublin. She will then be laid to rest at 3pm in Newcastle Muslim Cemetery Dublin.

There has been a coach arranged that will leave the Diamond Clones for Dlava’s family and friends at 6.45am for the funeral service in Dublin.

Kiea McCann’s funeral procession will leave her family home at 1.30pm tomorrow. Her funeral Mass will take place at 2pm at the Sacred Heart Chapel in Clones. She will then be laid to rest in Mount St Oliver’s Cemetery in Clones.

A guard of honour was held last night in Clones for 17-year-old Kiea, as her remains were removed from a funeral home in Monaghan town.

Photo credit: Liam McBurney

Frankie McCann, Kiea’s dad, told the Independent how he got a call immediately after the crash and raced to the scene.

“I got out there as quick as I could and tried to revive them with a woman that was there also," the heart-broken father said. "I had to move from my daughter to her best friend, but there was nothing I could do. All I could do was ask that they be put lying together.”

“There was great excitement here in the house before they went out. We had food and champagne and balloons, and it was going to be a great night.

“They could have got a coach out to the hotel, but they wanted to drive in style, and my friend has a white BMW and he agreed to drive them. We had put red bows and everything on the car.”

As news of the tragedy was revealed, the event planned for students at a local secondary school was cancelled. Largy College remained open late on Monday night, providing a space for grieving students to gather as they returned from the cancelled celebration.

In a statement, Largy College and the Cavan Monaghan Education Training Board said students, staff and all in the school community are in “deep shock following the tragic accident."

Heartbreaking news for our local community in the Clones area this evening. Every families worst nightmare. My thoughts & prayers are with all those involved.

— Heather Humphreys (@HHumphreysFG) July 31, 2023

Principal of Largy College, 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. 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 gardaí who responded swiftly to the incident.

“Our priority now is the well-being 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.

“We are grateful to the public for their deeply felt expression of support and ask that we be given the time and space to concentrate on supporting those in the school community who are most in need.”