Monaghan crash: Communities coming together after tragedy

It had become a tradition in the town for members of the close-knit community of parents, friends and neighbours to come out to see the finery and wish the students well as they travelled off to what was supposed to be the best night of their young lives.

The Diamond in Clones town centre where all the students meet up to head off on their journey to Monaghan.

On Tuesday morning, the town that had less than 24 hours before been full of joy, was now a shadow of its former self. Stony silence replaced the youthful laughter. Where hundreds had gathered in celebration, now only a few stood in mourning. The Diamond had lost its shine.

Walking through the streets of the town on Tuesday, it was evident how the tragic accident that took the lives of best friends Dlava Mohamed (16), below right, and Kiea McCann (17), far right, as they travelled to their Debs, had devastated the community.

Road closed, Clones. Photo: John McVitty.

The fatal road traffic collision occurred at approximately 6.45pm on Monday evening, July 31, on the N54 in Legnakelly (Clones to Smithborough Road), Co. Monaghan. Both Dlava and Kiea were pronounced dead at the scene. Dlava’s sister Avin (18) and the driver of the car, Anthony McGinn were taken to hospital where they remain critical. Oisín Clerkin (18) has received treatment for non-life-threatening injuries.

In convenience store Matthews of Clones on Tuesday, an exchange between a customer and the cashier summarised the feelings of the town, as they discussed the “unbelievable shock” of the accident and compassion for the families involved.

Sitting on the steps of his home, overlooking the Diamond where his sister would have met with her friends the previous evening, just minutes before the accident that took her life, Dlava’s brother was ashen faced.

“My sister is dead, and my other sister is critical,” he said, unable to bring himself to speak of the tragedy.

Over the course of the afternoon, members of his Syrian community never left his side, surrounding the young man as he grieved. With a solemn but grateful expression he accepted condolences by passersby as they reached out and shook his hand.

A lady, who was walking across the street accompanied by her daughter and granddaughter spoke empathetically as she nodded over to Dlava’s brother: “It’s absolutely dreadful. One sister dead, one critical. That poor family. I feel so sorry for that young fella.”

“Clones only seems to get nothing but bad luck,” she added.

Noel Farnan, Clones.

Noel Farnan, a member of Clones Men’s Shed, knew Dlava’s family “pretty well”, having worked alongside her father in the group. “Everyone is stunned,” he said.

A bouquet of flowers rest at the entrance to Largy College, Clones.

Outside Largy College on Tuesday, a single bouquet of flowers of sunflowers, lilies and roses, rested against the gate. Above them, a black ribbon was tied. Small tributes paid to the much-loved teenagers at their school.

Colones Fatals.

Speaking to RTE’s Morning Ireland, Largy College principal Sharon Magennis, who is from Enniskillen, said: “Dlava will be a massive loss to our school community.

“Dlava 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,” she said, noting how Dlava had just completed her Junior Certificate and was due to go into transition year.

Ms. Magennis said Kiea had completed the Leaving Certificate Applied programme.

“Kiea was pleasant and courteous,” she said.

“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.”

She said both girls were “absolutely integral” to the school community.

“We’re just heartbroken at this time.”

Ms. Magennis said the two girls had been “best friends” since Dlava arrived in Clones as part of a resettlement programme for Syrians.

“Words can’t describe how our school, our community of Clones is feeling at this time.”

The principal said taking students back from the Debs event into the school after the crash were the hardest minutes of her career.

“It was just a scene of utter heartbreak and devastation,” she said.

Largy College, Clones.

To provide counselling support for the students as they come to terms with the tragic loss of their peers, the school opened its doors on Tuesday afternoon.

The Debs ball was meant to be a celebration, an opportunity for the students of Largy College to mark the end of a significant chapter of their young lives.

Not the end of their lives.

This was echoed by Angela Graham, manager of the Clones Family Resource Centre, whose family support worker colleagues were with the families shortly after the accident.

Angela Graham, Manager, Family Resource Centre Clones.

“I am overwhelmed by sadness and grief for the families,” she said, tears filling her eyes.

“The family is known to us and our family support workers were with them last night, so it is very real to us,” she added.

Sympathising with Dlava’s parents, refugees from Syria who have since made Clones their home, Angela said: “Being in a foreign land and losing a child. Our hearts are filled with compassion for them.”

Acknowledging the pain that those who witnessed the crash, along with the first responders; fire service, ambulance service and Gardai, must be currently experiencing, Angela ensured that the Family Resource Centre will provide support for the community over the days, weeks and months to come.

Support is also being provided for young people through Clones Youth Centre.

Caolan Faux, director of the service, who also is a director of Blue Green Yonder in Enniskillen, talked of the “shock and

disbelief” of the youth centre members.

“At the moment there is just unbridled grief.

“We came in last night (Monday) to show initial support.

“We had six youth workers turn up which just demonstrates the depth of the relationships with the community.

“The service is here and the youth service will continue to provide support in the months ahead,” he told this newspaper.

On Tuesday night, at 10.30pm, the Diamond Clones was once again filled with hundreds of people.

People form a guard of honour as the hearse carrying the remains of Kiea McCann arrives to the family home in Clones, Co. Monaghan.

It was a parallel universe to the joyful scenes of Monday evening in the same location. The happy faces, full of excitement and joy, now grief-stricken and teary as the school friends of Kiea McCann, along with family, neighbours and members of the wider Clones community, formed a guard of honour as the 17-year-olds body travelled from Clerkins Funeral Home in Monaghan town to Clones.

A cortege of motorbikes and cars followed the hearse carrying the white coffin as it moved slowly through the town, stopping briefly outside a home where it is understood relatives of Dlava live.

Some of those in the crowd wept and consoled each other as the hearse passed by while the grief has also been felt on the other side of the Border in Fermanagh.

There were similar scenes last night as Dlava returned home to Clones ahead of her funeral service this morning at Clonskeagh Mosque and Culture Centre.