President Connolly leads tributes to 5 young friends

Nation left numb by two car collision in Co Louth

- BY MICHAEL O'TOOLE Crime and Defence Editor

THE President has led tributes to these five young people who lost their lives in a horrific crash as they travelled together to enjoy a night out at the weekend.

As gardai began a major probe into Saturday night's accident just outside Dundalk, Co Louth, Catherine Connolly said: "As President of Ireland, I am deeply saddened and shocked by the loss of five precious young lives in Louth last night.

"I am thinking of them, their families and of those injured. May I acknowledge also all those first responders who have worked to support all involved."

The five victims, who were all under the age of 25, were named by gardai as: Chloe McGee, a 23-year-old teacher from Carrickmacross in Co Monaghan; Shay Duffy, 21, also from Carrickmacross; Alan McCluskey, 23, from Drumconrath in Co Meath; Dylan Commins, 23, also from Drumconrath; and Chloe Hipson, 21, from Lanarkshire in Scotland.

The pals were in a Volkswagen Golf with another man when it collided with a Toyota Land Cruiser on the L3168, a minor road between Dundalk and Ardee, at around 9pm.

The survivor, who is from the Ardee area, was being treated for serious but non-life-threatening injuries in hospital last night.

The two occupants of the Land Cruiser were also taken to hospital following the crash, but neither of them suffered life-threatening injuries.

FIRE

Gardai said the six occupants of the Golf were heading to Dundalk for a normal night out when the tragedy happened.

It's understood the pals had met up in a restaurant before they all got into the Golf to head to Dundalk.

Sources tell us the car went on fire immediately after the collision and investigators believe it was a miracle one of the occupants survived.

It's believed to be the worst single road crash on Ireland's roads since eight people died in a two-vehicle collision near Buncrana in Co Donegal in 2010.