THE five young people who tragically died in a two-car crash have been pictured.
The five victims were killed when the Volkswagen Golf they were travelling in collided with a Toyota Land Cruiser in Gibstown, just outside Dundalk, Co Louth, Northern Ireland on Saturday night.
Chloe McGee, 23, and Shay Duffy, 21, both from Carrickmacross; Alan McCluskey, 23, and Dillon Commins, 23, both from Drumconrath, and Chloe Hipson, 21, from Lanarkshire in Scotland all died following the horror crash.
A sixth person who was in the car, also aged in his 20s, is receiving medical treatment in hospital for non-life threatening injuries, gardai said.
The group were reportedly on their on their way to Dundalk for a night-out.
Fianna Fáil Councillor Shane McGuinness, who lives nearby, described the weather as ‘very bad’ at the time of the crash.
He said: “It is a very dangerous stretch of road, with bad bends and no public lighting.
“This is a real tragedy and I send my heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims.”
Family liaison offers have been appointed to the families to provide support.
Post-mortem examinations will be carried out over the coming days.
Superintendent Armstrong said: “This tragedy, with the loss of five young adults, will have a deep impact on families and local communities in Carrickmacross, Dromconrath and in Scotland.
“This is a shocking, devastating event for these families, their communities and the community here in Dundalk.”
Ireland’s deputy premier Simon Harris said a “veil of deep sadness” had come over the country following the crash.
The Tanaiste said: “This morning, my thoughts, and I know the thoughts of people right across our country, are with the families of those who have lost loved ones, their friends and their communities.
“We keep them in our prayers and in our thoughts now and in the time ahead.
“I also want to pay tribute to the emergency services.
“One cannot even imagine the extraordinarily difficult and tragic circumstances in which they found themselves working last night as they set about trying to help in the most harrowing of situations.”
