A CLOSE-knit Donegal community has been left devastated after two young people were killed in a horrific road smash.
The gaeltacht village of Gortahork in west Donegal was thrown into turmoil following the tragedy late on Friday evening.
A car containing four young men collided with the gable wall of a house in the townland of Baltoney, outside of the village, just before 9.30pm.
Emergency services rushed to the scene of the single-vehicle collision.
However, two young men were sadly pronounced dead just moments later.
A Garda forensic collision team arrived on scene today to trace the last movements of the 06-registered Suzuki Liana before it struck the wall.
The deceased victims have been named locally as Shaun McClafferty and Jamie Diver.
All four young men in the car are from the Cloughaneely area.
It is understood the late Mr McClafferty, who was in his teens, was the driver while Mr Diver, who was in his 20s, was a back-seat passenger.
Gardai have said post-mortems will take place in due course.
Two other young men who were also in the car were removed to Letterkenny University Hospital.
One of these was a front-seat passenger, aged in his 20s, while the male rear-seat passenger as in his teens.
One of those young men has since been transferred to Beaumont Hospital in Dublin for further treatment.
Their condition is said to be serious, according to gardai.
Inspector Seamus McGonigle, who is head of the Garda Traffic Corps for Donegal, said their investigation is at an early stage.
SYMPATHIES OFFERED
However, he appealed to anybody who was in the area at the time and may have witnessed the crash or has dashcam footage around that time to come forward.
He said: “Our sympathy is extended to these young men and their families and friends and our thoughts are with the other two young men for a speedy recovery.
“We are at an early stage in our investigations.
“We would appeal to anybody who was in the area at the time and may have witnessed the incident or may have dashcam footage of before or after the incident to come forward.”
Local Fianna Fail TD, Pat the Cope Gallagher, said the days ahead will be “difficult and painful” for the families involved.
‘DARK CLOUD’
He added: “Donegal is under a dark and heavy cloud of loss and sadness with the news of the loss of two young lives in a tragic car accident in Gortahork.”
Gardai are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed this incident to contact them.
Separately in Dublin, a motorcyclist tragically died after his bike collided with a car.
The collision happened on the Sallyglen Road, Glenegeary, Co. Dublin, at around 8:15pm.
TRAGIC DEATH
Gardai and emergency services rushed to the scene, but the motorcyclist was later pronounced dead.
A spokesperson said: “Gardai and emergency services attended the scene of a two-vehicle fatal road traffic collision that occurred on Sallyglen Road, Glenegeary, Co. Dublin last night, Friday 28th February 2025.
“At approximately 8:15 pm, a motorcyclist and car collided, and a male motorcyclist, aged in his 50s, was fatally injured.
“His body has been removed from the scene to the mortuary in St Columcille’s Hospital, Loughlinstown, Co. Dublin, where a post-mortem examination will take place in due course.
“The driver of the vehicle, a male in his 60s, and sole occupant of the car was uninjured.
WITNESS APPEAL
“The road is currently closed, and local diversions are in place. A technical examination is being conducted at this time by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators.”
Gardai are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed this incident to contact them.
They added: “Any road users who may have camera footage (including dashcam) and were travelling on the Sallyglen Road, Glenageary, between 8:00 pm and 8:30 pm last night are asked to make this footage available to investigating Gardaí.
“Anyone with information is asked to contact Dun Laoghaire Garda Station on 01 666 5000, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.”
As of the end of February, 25 people have been killed on Irish road.
