Man (60) charged after Monaghan debs crash that left two teenage girls dead

Best friends Kiea McCann (17) and Dlava Mohamed (16), from Clones, killed when car hit tree last July on journey to Monaghan

Kiea McCann (17, left) and Dlava Mohamed (16) who died in a crash outside Clones in Co Monaghan on the way to a debs ball.
Kiea McCann (17, left) and Dlava Mohamed (16) who died in a crash outside Clones in Co Monaghan on the way to a debs ball.

Gardaí investigating a crash that left two teenagers dead as they were travelling to a debs ball in Co Monaghan last year have charged a man.

Anthony McGinn (60) of Drumloo, Newbliss, Co Monaghan, appeared before Monaghan District Court charged with dangerous driving, including speed, causing the deaths of Kiea McCann (17) and Dlava Mohamed (16).

Mr McGinn was also charged with dangerous driving that led to another person being seriously injured.

The best friends, both students at Largy College in Clones, were killed when the car in which they were travelling to the debs ball left the road and crashed into a tree.

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The two friends were killed and the three others in the car were injured on the N54 at Legnakelly near Clones at around 6.45pm on their way to the event in Monaghan town on July 31st last.

Kiea McCann grew up in Kilmainhamwood, Co Meath but later moved to Clones with her family. Dlava Mohamed’s family, who also live in the town, are originally from Syria.

Dlava’s older sister, Auin (18), was injured in the crash and required specialist head injury treatment. Kiea’s date for the night, Oisin Clerkin (18), was discharged from hospital after a brief period of treatment for minor injuries.

In mid-December, gardaí arrested two men, aged in their 40s and 60s, under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984.

Appearing before court on Monday, Mr McGinn was granted bail before the next court appearance. -Additional reporting by PA

Conor Lally

Conor Lally

Conor Lally is Security and Crime Editor of The Irish Times