Funeral hears of dad's frantic bid to save girls

Dlava Mohamed and Kiea McCann's school paid warm tributes ahead of their funerals

The father of one of the two teenage girls who were killed in a car crash made "frantic" attempts to save them at the scene, a funeral has been told.

Kiea McCann, 17, and her best friend Dlava Mohamed, 16, died in a collision on Monday evening as they travelled to an end-of-year school dance in County Monaghan.

A priest at Kiea's funeral mass said her father, Franky McCann, tried to give first aid to both girls.

A separate funeral for Dlava has taken place in Clonskeagh Mosque in Dublin.

The victims were among five people who were in the car when it collided with a tree on the main road between Clones and Smithborough on Monday evening.

Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Leo Varadkar said the teenagers' deaths had gripped the nation.

Fr John Chester, parish priest of Roslea, led Kiea's funeral mass in the Sacred Heart Chapel in Clones.

"Sitting yesterday with Kiea's dad Franky, at the McCann home, listening to him describe his frantic actions following his arrival at the scene of the crash, he described conducting CPR on his daughter and her soul friend Dlava, but with no success," Fr Chester said.

A funeral programme for Kiea McCann details a poem called Best Friends on the back

The priest told mourners that the hands of the two girls were touching, "as though they knew they were off to heaven together".

"No father should have to witness such a terrible scene," he added.

'Our hearts are broken'

Fr Chester noted that mourners who visited the McCann's home on Wednesday had stated how popular Kiea was among her friends.

"She had a great sense of humour, pleasantly mischievous and innocent. She, like her peers, was rarely off the iPhone keeping in touch," the priest said.

He added that family was very important to the 17-year-old and described her as "kind, whole-hearted, genuine".

The priest said: "Our hearts are broken, not only for Kiea and Dlava, but for all of those left behind after this terrible tragedy."

The teenagers were on their way to a debs (debutants') ball in Monaghan organised by their school, Largy College.

Students from the school formed a guard of honour outside the church in Clones.

A prayer service is held for Dvala at Dublin's Islamic Cultural Centre

Dlava's funeral took place at Clonskeagh Mosque in Dublin, followed by burial at the Newcastle Muslim Cemetery.

Her body was washed and shrouded in five pieces of white cloth, in line with Islamic tradition.

Her family then spent time with her in private until the funeral prayer.

Dr Ali Selim, of the Islamic Cultural Centre of Ireland, said: "It's a very sad day, especially when you think of the circumstances of the [Mohamed] family," he said.

"They ran away from Syria because they didn't feel safe, looking for protection, and unfortunately the place where they thought they would be safe, they were hit with this tragedy."

He said in Islam, death is seen as a "step in our trip to our Lord".

Dlava's cortege left the Diamond in Clones town early on Thursday morning and mourners travelled to the Irish capital for the service at 13:30 local time.

Local bikers paid tribute as Kiea arrives for her funeral Mass

Representatives of the taoiseach and Irish President Michael D Higgins attended both funerals.

Speaking to reporters in Cork, Mr Varadkar said: "The debs is one of those special occasions in our lives, a rite of passage that marks the transition from being a school child to being a young adult, and it's a time filled with opportunity and boundless hope.

"And for these young lives to be cut short in such an untimely way, in such a tragic manner, I think has gripped the nation."

On the eve of the funerals, Largy College published a warm tribute on its website in memory of its two students.

It described Dlava as a "gorgeous soul who radiated goodness" and said Kiea was a "friendly, kind and warm-hearted girl, who always demonstrated a willingness to support others".

Dlava moved to Ireland from Syria in 2018 under the Syrian resettlement programme.

She spent a few months in County Kildare before moving to Clones and entering Largy College.

The school statement said: "She had settled in so well to the Clones area and the Largy College community and was an integral part of our third year group.

"Dlava was a very moral young girl who had a strong sense of right and wrong and the courage of her convictions to express these."

'Abundance of promise'

The 16-year-old had recently completed her Junior Certificate exams and was looking forward to going into transition year in September.

"The Largy College school community is devastated by the tragic realisation that we will never witness the incredible potential of the amazing young woman she was destined to become, given her kind spirit and abundance of promise," the tribute added.

Kiea McCann (l) and Dlava Mohamed (r), who died after a crash in Monaghan, were best friends

Kiea had "immense potential and zest for life" and an "innate loyalty" which made her a very popular classmate, the school said.

"Throughout her years attending Largy College she was always pleasant and courteous to her teachers and fellow students," it added, describing her as "simply a lovely student to teach".

She had recently finished her schooling after completing her Leaving Certificate exams and she was hoping to begin third-level studies in childcare at Cavan Institute.

"It is truly heartbreaking that she will never get to see her dreams come true," the school said.

A book of condolence for both girls is due to open in Largy College on Friday.

People awaited the hearse carrying Dlava Mohamed's remains on Thursday evening

On Wednesday night, hundreds of mourners formed a guard of honour in Clones as Dlava's remains were returned to her family.

There had been similar scenes the night before when people lined the streets to honour Kiea, as her coffin was returned to their home town ahead of her funeral.

Three other people were injured, two of them critically, including Dlava's 18-year-old sister and the 60-year-old man who was driving the car.

On Wednesday, Dlava's sister was critical but stable in Beaumont Hospital in Dublin.

An 18-year-old man who was a passenger in the vehicle was treated with non-life-threatening injuries and has since been discharged from hospital.

All four teenagers attended Largy College.

Their teenage friends have been offered support by staff at the school and at Clones Youth Centre.

Both girls will be buried in white coffins