Ireland crash: Four young people killed in Co Tipperary are named by police
Four young people who died in a road crash in Co Tipperary while on the way to exam celebrations have been named by Irish police.
Driver Luke McSweeney, 24, and three passengers, including his 18-year-old sister Grace McSweeney, and teenagers Zoey Coffey and Nicole Murphy, also both 18, were killed after the car they were in struck a wall on Friday.
The crash happened close to the entrance of Hillview Sports Club in Mountain Road in the town of Clonmel at around 7.30pm.
The victims are thought to have been on their way to mark receiving the results of their Leaving Certificate exams.
Drivers made the sign of the cross as they travel past the crash scene, Ireland correspondent Stephen Murphy said.
He described the “mangled car lying on its roof” surrounded by “Garda vans and investigators”.
“The violence of the impact that turned a night of celebration to the deepest despair is evident,” he added.
A vigil is being held for the victims in Clonmel at 6.30pm on Sunday, with a book of condolences to be opened at the local council offices from 11am on Monday.
(From left to right) Grace McSweeney, Nicole Murphy, Zoey Coffey and Luke McSweeney
Read more from Sky News:
Man found by police responding to dog theft ‘had been dead several days’
FIFA suspends embattled Spanish football chief
Michael O’Loughlin, principal of Presentation Secondary School in Clonmel, described his “beautiful” students Zoey Coffey and Grace McSweeney, who were “loved by everybody who met them”.
“Grace was a gentle and kind person. She was thoughtful, considerate, and hard working. Grace was a gifted gymnast and a dancer and a very good student who had a positive impact on everybody she encountered,” he said.
“Zoey’s personality was warm and vibrant. She was funny, kind and really determined. Zoey was a diligent worker and was very popular with her peers and teachers, and was central to all aspects of school life in the Pres.”
Anne McGrath, principal of Loreto Secondary School, said that her student Nicole Murphy had received “excellent” Leaving Certificate results on Friday.
“Nicole was a beautiful student, highly regarded by staff and students alike. During her time in Loreto, she developed into a young woman who was kind, gentle and witty, and she was a trusted and loyal friend,” she said.
“Yesterday’s celebrations are now replaced by unbearable grief and a sense of loss for the whole local community. No words can express our sorrow, pain and grief.”
A critical incident plan is being worked on by the three schools affected.
Father Michael Toomey at the scene of the fatal crash
Local priest Father Toomey, who spent time with the newly bereaved families overnight, said: “Sometimes no words seem adequate when a tragedy like what occurred in Clonmel tonight happens. No words can give comfort at this time.”
Fr Toomey also urged people to be respectful amid anger over people sharing images of the crash site on social media.
A drone was also flown over the scene, with many angry at media outlets who chose to broadcast the footage, Murphy said.
Superintendent Kieran Ruane, from Clonmel Garda Station, expressed his “condolences and sympathies” in a statement made on Saturday.
“Our local communities, in particular Clonmel, Kilsheelan and Ballypatrick are shocked and deeply saddened by these events,” he said.
“I want to assure them that An Garda Síochána is here over the coming days, weeks and months to support our communities as we all come to terms with this tragedy.
“I have been in contact with the principals of the local secondary schools that the girls attended and supports are being put in place for the friends of all four deceased today and over the next few days.”
Irish prime minister Leo Varadkar described their deaths in a statement as “truly devastating and heartbreaking”.
“It is with deep sadness that I learned of the tragic incident in Clonmel last night,” he said.
“Leaving Cert results night should mark the beginning of a world of opportunities for young people. It’s a milestone on the road from childhood to adulthood. For young lives, so full of possibility, to be cut short in this way is truly devastating and heartbreaking. The whole nation mourns them.
“My sincere condolences to the families and friends of those who have died and the wider community in Clonmel and Tipperary. The thoughts of the whole country are with them, their school and their community.
“I am assured that the school authorities and (the health service) will work together to put in place the necessary supports for their classmates and community. We must come together in times such as this.”
Mr Varadkar then said in Irish: “May their souls be at God’s right hand.”
Higher education minister Simon Harris TD said there was “grief, shock and sadness” after the “devastating” and “heartbreaking” incident.
On X, formerly known as Twitter, he wrote: “Leaving Cert results day represents achievement, celebration and excitement.
“Tonight that has been replaced by grief, shock and sadness… There are no words. Heartbreaking.”
World
‘Better late than never’: Palestinian minister says UK recognition of state would be ‘courageous step’
Britain will be taking “a courageous step at a very difficult time” by officially recognising a Palestinian state, according to the authority’s foreign minister, who told Sky News she believes the announcement – expected in the coming days – will inspire more nations to follow suit.
The Palestinian Authority’s foreign minister, Varsen Aghabekian, told me Britain’s move was “better late than never”, and said “Britain, with its weight, can influence other countries to come forward and recognise, because that is the right thing to do”.
But she also said she is “very angry” with the White House over its “unwavering support” for Israel, and said that Israel’s refusal to pass on tax revenue was pushing Palestinian civil society to the brink of “collapse”.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Could recognition of Palestine change the West Bank?
Aghabekian was speaking as Britain, along with France, Canada and Australia, prepares to recognise the State of Palestine officially at the United Nations.
She told me: “Britain has been supporting the existence and the flourishing of Israel for some time, but I think today Britain is looking at the matter objectively, in terms of the right of people, in terms of complying with international law, and in terms of the future of this area for both the Israelis and Palestinians.”
She rejected the idea that recognising Palestine was a reward for Hamas terrorism, saying that “non-recognition” would also be a “reward to the extremists” and said that “if we wait until Israel decides it wants to go into negotiations with the Palestinians, then it won’t happen”.
Aghabekian told me she expected Gaza to be returned to the Palestinians, but I put it to her that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was being empowered by the diplomatic support he receives from America, and in particular, US President Donald Trump.
So is she angry with the White House? “Very angry, because I expect the White House and the United States of America to align with international law, with human rights, with having no double standards.
“This unwavering support for Israel, this blind support, is not only harming the Palestinians but also Israeli society.”
Read more:
What does recognising a Palestinian state mean?
Gaza could be ‘real estate bonanza’, Israeli minister says
Varsen Aghabekian speaks to Sky’s Adam Parsons
The state of Palestine is already recognised by three-quarters of the United Nations’ members. It comprises two separate territories – the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip. Together, they are officially known as the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
The West Bank has been subject to Israeli military occupation since 1967, while Gaza has been attacked by Israel since the Hamas attacks of 7 October 2023, when nearly 1,200 Israelis were killed and around 250 people were taken hostage.
Since then, more than 65,000 people have been killed in Gaza as Israel has sought to destroy Hamas and recover its hostages. There are 48 hostages still in Gaza, with 20 believed to be alive.
She confirmed to me that Mahmoud Abbas, leader of the Palestinian Authority, which governs the West Bank, “has given guarantees in letters to various leaders around the globe that said Hamas will not be part of the governance of the Gaza Strip” and insisted there was “probably a worldwide consensus” on the topic.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
How has UK responded to Israel-Gaza conflict?
But she also insisted it was “not reasonable” to talk of completely erasing Hamas: “Hamas is an ideology, not a building that you bring down. Hamas is in people’s minds; in their heads.
“Those who support Hamas need to see a future, need to see something that is moving on the political level, need to see that there might be a state in which their children and their grandchildren might prosper.
“What people see today, whether they are Hamas supporters or not, they see darkness and they see destruction all over. They see violation of rights. They are helpless and hopeless. People need to see things are moving forward, and once that happens, there will be a shift in the mood, and they will look for a better future.”
But just as the Palestinians prepare to welcome recognition, Aghabekian said the West Bank was facing financial collapse as Israel continues to withhold hundreds of millions of dollars of tax revenue that, under a 30-year-old agreement, it collects on the Palestinian Authority’s behalf.
Israel has retained a proportion of the money since the start of the war in Gaza, but, encouraged by finance minister Bezalel Smotrich, it has recently withheld a much higher amount.
“People have not been paid, civil servants are only receiving small parts of their salaries. We can’t buy medical supplies, equipment, you name it,” said Aghabekian.
“How can a government run a country under such conditions? So yes, we are very worried.”
-
Sports3 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports1 year agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports2 years agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports2 years agoButton battles heat exhaustion in NASCAR debut
-
Sports2 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports4 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Environment2 years agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Environment12 months agoHere are the best electric bikes you can buy at every price level in October 2024