Schoolgirl best friends die 'hand in hand' after driver ignored pleas to slow down

A motorist who recklessly sped at over double the and crashed into a tree has been held responsible for the heartbreaking deaths of two teenage girls, despite their desperate pleas for him to "slow down".

61-year-old Anthony McGinn was entrusted with the safety of best friends Kiea McCann, 17, and Dlava Mohamed, 16, along with Dlava's sister, Avin, for their journey to a ball in Monaghan Town, .

Tragically, McGinn's decision to drive at more than 90mph in a 50mph zone on a slick road led to a fatal collision with a tree on the N54 stretch at Legnakelly. The crash claimed the lives of Keia and Dlava, while inflicting serious injuries upon Avin.

McGinn is set to be sentenced next week, the has reported, after pleading guilty to charges of dangerous driving and dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm.

Dashcam footage from a car trailing the scene, aired in Monaghan Circuit Court, captured the accident's tragic moment, prompting distraught reactions as family and friends gasped, visibly shaken, with some forced to temporarily leave the courtroom.

Inspector Lardner reported McGinn's arrest in December 2023. During police interviews, McGinn claimed to have no recollection of speeding or overtaking another vehicle.

However, once confronted with the dashcam video by Inspector Lardner, McGinn confessed his ignorance: "I wouldn't have a clue how fast I was going. Jesus, I have no answer.

"I see my car sliding. I don't know what speed I was doing."

Avin, who suffered grave injuries in the tragic incident, shared the life-altering impact of the crash, stating: "My sister came with me as I had no-one else to come."

Avin continued: "Anthony began speeding. I remember I got angry and told him to stop. Then everything went black.

"My family couldn't tell me. It broke me. I lost my sister and best friend.

"I had to build my entire life from scratch and I will never be whole again. I am carrying the guilt I cannot shake because I asked my sister to come along. If only I went alone."

In victim impact statements read out by Inspector Lardner from family members, Dlava's dad Mohammed said his daughter was 'a piece of his heart' and he will carry the pain of her loss for the rest of his life.

Oisin Clerkin, who was in the front seat during the tragic incident, recounted to Gardai: "All I know is he was speeding and playing music. I told him to slow down. He didn't reply.

"He was driving really fast and it scared me. None of the girls said anything. Kiea looked scared. I said 'Goodbye' to Kiea and I woke up in hospital."

In her statement, Kiea's mother Teresa said she had trusted McGinn to "take my child safe" to the Debs ball. She added: "When we got to the scene, Kiea was already gone. Her dad tried CPR on her. Nothing would bring her back.

"Kiea and her best friend were robbed of their lives. They were put side by side holding hands on the grass as me and my husband lay beside them."

She also disclosed the tragic detail that Kiea's 18th birthday present turned out to be her headstone.

Counsel for McGinn, Breffni Gordon, said in mitigation McGinn entered an early guilty plea, was very seriously injured, expressed genuine remorse and formally apologised to the families and friends of Kiea and Dlava.

Judge John Aylmer adjourned sentencing until next Wednesday, May 14 at 10am.