A driver who killed two teenage girls in a high-speed crash on their way to a school ball has been sentenced to seven years in prison.
Anthony McGinn, 61, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and causing serious bodily harm after his car slammed into a tree while travelling at over 90mph in a 50mph zone.
The crash happened in July 2023 on the N54 at Legnakelly, near Monaghan Town, Ireland. McGinn had been entrusted to drive best friends Kiea McCann, 17, and Dlava Mohamed, 16, to their school’s leaver’s ball.
Both girls tragically died at the scene, found side-by-side holding hands. Dlava’s sister Avin, also a passenger, was seriously injured.
Monaghan Circuit Court was shown disturbing dashcam footage from a vehicle travelling behind McGinn, prompting audible gasps and emotional outbursts from the victims’ families. Many left the courtroom in distress.
Gardaí Inspector Lardner said McGinn was arrested in December 2023. When questioned, McGinn told investigators: “I wouldn’t have a clue how fast I was going. Jesus, I have no answer.”
‘I Put My Trust in Him’: Families Devastated by Loss
Heartbreaking victim impact statements revealed the deep grief and anguish suffered by the families. Kiea’s mother, Teresa McCann, described the horror of arriving at the crash scene:
“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.”
McGinn had picked up the teenagers from a pub before the crash. Front seat passenger Oisin Clerkin testified that he had pleaded with McGinn to slow down: “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.”
Despite warnings, McGinn continued to drive recklessly in wet road conditions. His defence counsel, Breffni Gordon, said McGinn had shown remorse and apologised to the victims’ families.
Survivors and Community Left to Pick Up the Pieces
Dlava’s sister Avin, who sustained life-changing injuries in the crash, shared the unbearable guilt she now carries: “My sister came with me as I had no one else to come. Anthony began speeding.
“I remember I got angry and told him to stop. Then everything went black. I lost my sister and best friend. I had to build my entire life from scratch and I will never be whole again.”
Dlava’s father, Mohammed Mohamed, said he would carry the pain of losing his daughter forever. Dr Ali Selim from the Islamic Cultural Centre of Ireland added: “They ran away from Syria because they didn’t feel safe… and unfortunately, the place where they thought they would be safe, they were hit with this tragedy.”
Largy College, where the girls were students, described Kiea as having “immense potential and zest for life,” calling her “simply a lovely student to teach.”
