Ireland mourns five young people killed in car crash

Five young people who died in a two-vehicle crash in Co Louth, Ireland, on Saturday night have been named and pictured by police.

- NICOLE WOOTTON-CANE

Shay Duffy, 21, from Carrickmacross, Chloe Hipson, 21, from Lanarkshire in Scotland, Dylan Commins, 23, from Ardee, County Louth, Alan McCluskey, 23, from Drumconrath, County Meath, and Chloe McGee, 23, from Carrickmacross, County Monaghan, died in a collision while on their way to a night out in Dundalk on 15 November.

Three other people, one of whom is also in his early 20s, were injured in what Irish police described as a “shocking and devastating” crash.

Gardai said it would have “a deep impact” on families and communities in Carrickmacross, Dromconrath and Scotland. The crash, which involved a Volkswagen Golf and a Toyota Land Cruiser, happened on a road near Dundalk just after 9pm.

The five people who died, and one man in his early 20s, were in the Volkswagen Golf and are believed to have been on their way to socialise in Dundalk, gardai said.

Two other people, a man and woman from the other vehicle, were taken for treatment to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda.

Ireland's premier Micheal Martin said he was “numbed and shocked” at the news, and deputy premier Simon Harris said a “veil of deep sadness” had come over the country.

An investigation has begun into the accident on the L3168 at Gibstown.