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Eight killed in Donegal car crash | Eight killed in Donegal car crash |
(about 6 hours later) | |
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. | 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 which survived. The eighth person to die was the driver of the second car. | |
It is believed the 66-year-old man had been 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 Hugh Friel from Clonmany. | |
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 |
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. |
Traffic police said the black Passat saloon was believed to have collided with a white Renault before the driver lost control and ploughed into a red Toyota 200m away. | Traffic police said the black Passat saloon was believed to have collided with a white Renault before the driver lost control and ploughed into a red Toyota 200m away. |
'Tight bends' | 'Tight bends' |
BBC NI reporter Paddy O'Flaherty said the road where the accident happened was very narrow. | 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 it was "an ordeal" for all of the families involved. | Donegal senator Cecelia Keaveney said it 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." |
The Irish prime minister Brian Cowen, on a trip to New York, extended his sympathy to the families of those killed. | The Irish prime minister Brian Cowen, on a trip to New York, extended his sympathy to the families of those killed. |
"I am deeply saddened to learn of these deaths and I want to extend my sincere sympathies to everyone who lost loved ones," he said. | "I am deeply saddened to learn of these deaths and I want to extend my sincere sympathies to everyone who lost loved ones," he said. |
NI Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness also passed on his condolences to the families of those killed. | NI Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness also passed on his condolences to the families of those killed. |