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| Version 7 | Version 8 |
|---|---|
| Eight killed in Donegal car crash | Eight killed in Donegal car crash |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| It is believed the car hit a Renault minutes before the fatal accident | It is believed the car hit a Renault minutes before the fatal accident |
| Eight people have been killed in a car crash in County Donegal, about 15 miles from the Northern Ireland border. | Eight people have been killed in a car crash in County Donegal, about 15 miles from the Northern Ireland border. |
| The two-car collision happened on the Drumfree to Clonmany road at 2230 BST on Sunday. | |
| Seven of the dead were travelling in a black Volkswagen Passat, the driver of this car survived. The eighth person to die was the driver of the second car. | Seven of the dead were travelling in a black Volkswagen Passat, the driver of this car survived. The eighth person to die was the driver of the second car. |
| It is believed he was returning home after playing bingo in Buncrana. | It is believed he was returning home after playing bingo in Buncrana. |
| The seven young men who died in the Passat were 21-year-old Mark McLaughlin, from Fahan; Paul Doherty and Ciaran Sweeney who were 19 and from Ballyliffin; Patrick McLaughlin, 21, from Burnfoot; 22-year-old Eamonn McDaid and 21-year-old Damien McLaughlin, both from Buncrana, and James McEleney, 23, from Clonmany. | The seven young men who died in the Passat were 21-year-old Mark McLaughlin, from Fahan; Paul Doherty and Ciaran Sweeney who were 19 and from Ballyliffin; Patrick McLaughlin, 21, from Burnfoot; 22-year-old Eamonn McDaid and 21-year-old Damien McLaughlin, both from Buncrana, and James McEleney, 23, from Clonmany. |
| The driver of the other car was 66-year-old Hugh Friel from Clonmany. | The driver of the other car was 66-year-old Hugh Friel from Clonmany. |
| The surviving driver was taken to Letterkenny General Hospital where he is said to be in a critical condition. | The surviving driver was taken to Letterkenny General Hospital where he is said to be in a critical condition. |
| Irish police are also investigating reports that the Volkswagen was involved in a separate collision with a silver Renault a few minutes before the fatal crash. | Irish police are also investigating reports that the Volkswagen was involved in a separate collision with a silver Renault a few minutes before the fatal crash. |
| The road remains closed and traffic diversions are in place. | The road remains closed and traffic diversions are in place. |
| 'Tight bends' | |
| BBC NI reporter Paddy O'Flaherty said the road where the accident happened was very narrow. | |
| "It's a twisty, windy road. Lots of tight bends with high hedges," he said. | "It's a twisty, windy road. Lots of tight bends with high hedges," he said. |
| "There are a few straight stretches but they are few and far between." | "There are a few straight stretches but they are few and far between." |
| At Mass in Buncrana on Monday morning, Father Rafal Januszewski said it was a "tragedy of all Inishowen people". | At Mass in Buncrana on Monday morning, Father Rafal Januszewski said it was a "tragedy of all Inishowen people". |
| "Words are nothing, it is better to be with them (the families)," he added. | "Words are nothing, it is better to be with them (the families)," he added. |
| In Clonmany, Fr Fintan Diggin, spoke of how he went to the scene of the accident. | In Clonmany, Fr Fintan Diggin, spoke of how he went to the scene of the accident. |
| "I got the word that there had been an accident at about a quarter to midnight," he said. | "I got the word that there had been an accident at about a quarter to midnight," he said. |
| "By that stage the fire services and ambulances were already there. I prayed with those involved and annointed them and tried to be some sort of comfort to all the services that were there as well. | "By that stage the fire services and ambulances were already there. I prayed with those involved and annointed them and tried to be some sort of comfort to all the services that were there as well. |
| "This morning, people are just overwhelmed by a sense of loss." | "This morning, people are just overwhelmed by a sense of loss." |
| Donegal senator Cecelia Keaveney said this was "an ordeal" for all of the families involved. | Donegal senator Cecelia Keaveney said this was "an ordeal" for all of the families involved. |
| "Because of the close-knit community it affects very, very many people in Inishowen particularly," she said. | "Because of the close-knit community it affects very, very many people in Inishowen particularly," she said. |
| Ms Keaveney said she believed many of the victims were local people. | Ms Keaveney said she believed many of the victims were local people. |
| "We have had so many fatalities on the roads over the past decades, for many families, this will reawaken the difficulties they faced," she said. | "We have had so many fatalities on the roads over the past decades, for many families, this will reawaken the difficulties they faced," she said. |
| "The immediate concern is for the families, but it will reawaken histories for many people as well." | "The immediate concern is for the families, but it will reawaken histories for many people as well." |