Content warning: this article contains subject matter some readers may find upsetting
Two teenage girls have tragically died after crashing into a tree on Monday (31 July) when travelling to a Debs ball prom just outside Clones, Ireland.
The Largy College students who were passengers in the vehicle have since been identified as Dalava Mohammed, 16, and Kiea McCann, 17.
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Tributes for the two teens have since poured in leaving the local community and families completely 'devastated' by the incident that has been described as every parent's 'worst possible nightmare'.
Among such tributes included Kiea’s father, Frankie, who told Independent.ie just how much the two 'best friends' were looking forward to the ball before tragedy struck.
"There was great excitement here in the house before they went out. We had food and champagne and balloons, and it was going to be a great night," he recalled.
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Kiea has been remembered as 'a beautiful girl inside and out' with an 'infectious smile', while Dalava is described as the 'cherished and much loved daughter' of her parents Hohamed and Zenab Mohamed, according to the Irish Independent.
The horrific incident took place on a stretch of the N54 between Clones and Smithborough on Monday evening between 6.15pm and 7pm.
An 18-year-old man has also been reported to have suffered non life-threatening injuries following the crash.
Largy College principal, Sharon Magennis, said Dalava had just completed her Junior Certificate and was due to go into transition year.
Speaking to RTE’s Morning Ireland, she said: “Dalava will be a massive loss to our school community.
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"Dalava was always smiling, she was gorgeous, so loyal and bubbly, and she was always very happy. She really had a goodness and she was just full of energy."
Kiea had just completed the Leaving Certificate Applied programme with the principal remembering her as 'pleasant and courteous'.
"She had a great love of children and she had hoped to go on to study childcare at third level, and now that is a dream that will just not be realised," Magennis continued.
She added that both girls were 'absolutely integral' to the school community.
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The principal added: "We’re just heartbroken at this time,"
"Words can’t describe how our school, our community of Clones is feeling at this time. It was just a scene of utter heartbreak and devastation."
Hundreds of people from the local community gathered on Monaghan Street and at the town square, The Diamond, as a mark of support for the family last night (1 August).
Speaking of the heartbreaking news, Social Protection Minister, Heather Humphreys, said: "This is just terrible. It's an unimaginable tragedy. And I have to say my thoughts and prayers are with the families of the two young girls who have lost their lives and with those who are very seriously injured in hospital, I can just say the entire community...has just been knocked by this.
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"You know, this was a debs night for Largy College. It should have been a night of celebration, and a kind of coming of age for these young people and it just turned into their families’ worst possible nightmare."
She continued: "This is just awful for so many families, you know, young people to see their friends cut off at such a young young age. It's just It's heartbreaking. It really is. And it's very, very difficult for them to take.
"I know a lot of parents across the country will hear this news today. And I know that they're holding their children extra tight because it really every parent's worst nightmare."
If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence, contact Cruse Bereavement Care via their national helpline on 0808 808 1677
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