The town of Clones, Co. Monaghan, was devastated when best friends Kiea McCann, 17, and Dlava Mohammed, 16, were killed on July 31, 2023, while on their way to prom. Just hours earlier, the girls had posed for joyful photos — “Kiea in a red gown… and Dlava in a pale blue dress, smiling softly.”

Their families recalled the excitement before the night. “We had food and champagne and balloons — it was going to be a great night,” said Kiea’s father, Frankie McCann. But that joy turned to tragedy.

The car was driven by 61-year-old Anthony McGinn, a family friend. Witnesses said he was speeding at nearly twice the 50 mph limit despite pleas to slow down. Survivor Oisin Clerkin remembered, “He was driving really fast and it scared me… Kiea looked scared. I said goodbye to Kiea — then I woke up in hospital.”

McGinn later pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death and was banned from driving for 15 years.

At the crash scene, Kiea’s father tried to save them, but it was too late. Their mother, Teresa, said, “They were put side by side holding hands as we lay beside them.” The town continues to mourn the loss of the inseparable best friends.