Man sentenced for killing two girls who died 'hand in hand' on way to school formal

A man who killed two best friends on their way to a school ball after speeding at more than twice the limit and smashing his car into a tree has been jailed for seven years.

Anthony McGinn, 61, was put in a “position of trust” to drive best pals Kiea McCann, 17, and Dlava Mohamed, 16, to the event in Monaghan Town, Ireland, in July 2023 when the horror unfolded. The teenagers tragically died side-by-side while Dlava's sister - who had joined them on the ride - was left seriously injured.

McGinn pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm earlier this year. Monaghan Circuit Court was shown dashcam footage from a vehicle travelling behind him as distraught family and friends let out gasps and became visibly upset and left the courtroom for a time.

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Gardaí Inspector Lardner said McGinn was arrested in December 2023. In a memo of interviews, he said he didn’t remember overtaking a vehicle and didn’t know if he was speeding. When the dashcam was shown to him by Inspector Lardner, McGinn said: "I wouldn’t have a clue how fast I was going. Jesus, I have no answer."

In a heartbreaking victim impact statement, Kiea's mum Teresa told how she had put her trust in McGinn to take her daughter to the leaver's ball, and arrived to the scene to find her dead. She said: "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."

Family friend McGinn had picked up the group from a pub in town before heading to the event, the court was told in a prior hearing. Front seat passenger Oisin Clerkin asked McGinn to "slow down" but he did not respond. Oisin later told police: "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."

McGinn was found to have sped his car at more than 90mph in a 50mph zone on a wet road before crashing into a tree on a section of the N54 at Legnakelly. Breffni Gordon, defending, said he had apologised to the victims' families and was remorseful.

Dlava's sister Avin, who suffered severe injuries in the crash, said the crash changed her life forever and left her "carrying the guilt" because she had asked her sister to accompany her to the ball.

She said: "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.

"My family couldn’t tell me. It broke me. I lost my sister and best friend. I had to build my entire life from scratch and I will never be whole again. I am carrying the guilt I cannot shake because I asked my sister to come along. If only I went alone."

Dlava’s devastated father, Mohammed, said his daughter was "a piece of his heart" and that he would carry the pain of her loss forever. After her funeral, Dr Ali Selim, of the Islamic Cultural Centre of Ireland, said: "It's a very sad day, especially when you think of the circumstances of the [Mohamed] family," he said.

"They ran away from because they didn't feel safe, looking for protection, and unfortunately the place where they thought they would be safe, they were hit with this tragedy."

Kiea, 17, was described by Largy College as having "immense potential and zest for life" and an "innate loyalty" which made her a very popular classmate. "Throughout her years attending Largy College she was always pleasant and courteous to her teachers and fellow students," the school added, describing her as "simply a lovely student to teach".

"It is truly heartbreaking that she will never get to see her dreams come true," the school said.