The sentencing of a 61-year-old man, who admitted to dangerous driving causing the deaths of two teenagers who were on their way to their debs in Co Monaghan almost two years ago, has been adjourned until next week.
Kiea McCann, 17, and her best friend, 16-year-old Dlava Mohammed, died when the car they were travelling in struck a tree at Legnakelly on 31 July 2023.
Anthony McGinn, with an address at Drumloo, Newbliss, Co Monaghan, previously pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing the deaths of the two teenagers.
He also pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm in the case of Dlava Mohammed's sister, Avin, who was one of two other teenagers in the car at the time of the collision.
McGinn appeared before Judge John Aylmer at Monaghan Circuit Criminal Court this morning.
A large number of relatives and friends of both Kiea and Dlava were in court for today's lengthy hearing at which the details of the case were outlined.
The court heard that McGinn had been a friend of the McCann family and he agreed to be a chauffeur and drop the teenagers to their debs in Monaghan town.
On the day in question, McGinn had called over to the McCann family home before they all gathered at a pub in Clones, which was the meeting point for the students heading to the Largy College debs.
The court was told that a bus had been organised to bring some of the students to the Westenra Arms Hotel in Monaghan town while other students had arranged their own lifts.
Distressing dash-cam footage of the moment McGinn's speeding white BMW left the road and collided with the tree was shown to the court this morning.
The dash-cam footage was obtained from the vehicle travelling behind McGinn.
Members of both families became visibly upset after watching the footage and the court had to rise for a short recess.
The crash took place on the N54 at Legnakelly, just outside Clones.
Senior Investigating Officer and Divisional Roads Policing Inspector for Louth, Cavan and Monaghan Ann-Marie Lardner confirmed that an analysis of CCTV estimated McGinn's speed as he left Clones.
Ms Lardner said that the road was in good repair and the conditions on the night were wet as there had been heavy showers.
The court was told that McGinn's white BMW was estimated to be travelling over 150km/h in an 80km/h zone.
His impact speed when he hit the base of the tree was over 121km/h.
The court heard that Oisín Clerkin, who had been sitting in the passenger seat, had become worried when McGinn began speeding and asked him to slow down.
A statement on behalf of him outlined how when he realised something was about to go wrong, he turned to Kiea and said goodbye.
The court was told that the McCann family arrived on the scene shortly after the collision and Franky McCann performed CPR on both his daughter and Dlava. However, both girls were pronounced dead at the scene.
In his victim impact statement read out by Inspector Lardner, Dlava's father Mohammed Mohammed said his daughter was a "piece of his heart" and he will carry the pain of her loss with him for the rest of his life.
Mr Mohammed said the family had fled Syria to start a new life in Ireland and they could build their dreams here but "Dlava's dreams are now buried with her".
Meanwhile, Mr McCann told the court that his daughter will "never know her first love, get married or have a child of her own".
He said Kiea "was more than the girl killed in the debs crash".
Addressing McGinn, Mr McCann said: "Because of the decision you made, you took our daughter from our lives and our hearts."
Breffni Gordon BL said mitigating factors included that alcohol was not a factor in the collision and his client had entered an early guilty plea.
Mr Gordon added that McGinn had also been seriously injured in the crash, he had expressed genuine remorse and he "formally apologises to the family and friends of the victims".
He said McGinn had to endure the social stigma associated with the collision and also lost his job and income as well as his relationship with his wife and children.
Judge Aylmer adjourned sentencing until next Wednesday 14 May.
