Brother and sister among four killed in Clonmel crash
Nicole Murphy, Luke McSweeney, Grace McSweeney and Zoey Coffey were on their way to meet friends
At a glance
Irish prime minister Leo Varadkar said the "whole nation mourns" the deaths of four young people in County Tipperary
Luke McSweeney, 24, and his sister Grace, 18, were among those killed when the car they were travelling in hit a wall in Clonmel
Nicole Murphy and Zoey Coffey, both 18, also died in the crash
It is believed they were on their way to an exam results celebration
A number of events due to take place in the town on Saturday have been cancelled
- Published
A vigil is to be held on Sunday in memory of four young people who died in a car crash in County Tipperary.
Brother and sister Luke McSweeney, 24, and Grace McSweeney, 18, died in the crash along with 18-year-olds Nicole Murphy and Zoey Coffey.
The car they were travelling in crashed into a wall in Clonmel on Friday evening.
The whole of Ireland is mourning after their deaths, Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Leo Varadkar has said.
Irish broadcaster RTÉ understands they were on their way to meet friends to celebrate receiving Leaving Cert exam results.
The principal of Presentation Secondary School, where Zoey and Grace had attended, said the town is "covered in a cloud of sadness and devastation" by the deaths of "two beautiful students".
Michael O'Loughlin added: "Our school community is in mourning today."
Anne McGrath, principal of Loreto Secondary School where Nicole Murphy had attended, said Friday's celebrations are now replaced by "unbearable grief and a sense of loss for the whole local community".
Unbearable grief
Mr Varadkar said results night should mark the "beginning of a world of opportunities for young people".
"It’s a milestone on the road from childhood to adulthood," he said.
"For young lives, so full of possibility, to be cut short in this way is truly devastating and heartbreaking. The whole nation mourns them."
Mr Varadkar offered his condolences to the families and friends of those killed, as well as the wider community of Clonmel.
"The thoughts of the whole country are with them, their school and their community."
President Michael D Higgins said the "hearts of all parents and relatives, indeed the whole community" will have gone out to the victims' families.
He added that "the grief that has been expressed by the community is nearly unbearable".
Speaking to the media on Saturday afternoon, Supt Kieran Ruane said the local community was "shocked and deeply saddened" by the tragic events.
He has been in touch with the principals of the schools the girls attended, and said support is being put in place for friends of the victims in the next few days.
He paid tribute to the emergency services who attended the scene on Friday.
"The scene was very difficult, in very adverse weather conditions and the professionalism shown by all first responders and the care and respect shown to the four deceased was exemplary," he said.
Supt Ruane said family liaison officers have been appointed, and the families have appealed for privacy at this time.
He asked those with footage or images of the Mountain Road where the crash took place between 19:00 and 19:30 to contact gardaí.
'Difficult days ahead'
The vigil will take place at 18:30 local time in the Denis Burke Park in Clonmel on Sunday.
Post-mortem examinations are due to take place over the coming days in Waterford University Hospital.
Local priest Fr Michael Toomey said "no words are adequate" to describe the tragedy.
He urged those in the town to look after each other for what will be "difficult days ahead".
"No words can give comfort at this time. My thoughts and prayers are with the families tonight who suffered a terrible loss in this terrible accident," he said.
He also repeated a gardaí's (Irish police) request for people not to share images on social media as to not cause further distress to heartbroken families.
"My thoughts and prayers are with the four young people who tragically lost their lives tonight, to their families, and their friends, on what should have been one of the happiest nights of their lives," he added.
A number of events due to take place in the town, including local park runs and Pride parade events, have been cancelled.
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Tánaiste (Irish deputy prime minister) Micheál Martin said he was "deeply saddened by the tragic, heartbreaking loss of four young lives".
Local Independent TD (member of the Irish parliament) Mattie McGrath described the tragedy as "every parents worst nightmare" while Fine Gael TD Michael Lowry said people in the county and across the country are "overcome with shock and sadness".
Meanwhile the leaders of Stormont parties in Northern Ireland have offered their condolences to the victims and their families.
Sinn Féin vice-president Michelle O'Neill said "our hearts are sore" after the deaths of the four young people.
"Their families, friends, and the local community are all in the thoughts and prayers of everyone across the island," she posted on social media.
"The country mourns with you during this very sad time."
Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said his thoughts were with the families and Clonmel community "who have suffered such a devastating loss".
"How quickly joy can turn to tragedy as we are all reminded of the uncertainty of life."