Man jailed for dangerous driving causing deaths of teens on way to Debs as mum says 'no justice'
Anthony McGinn, 61, from Drumloo, Newbliss, Co Monaghan, has been sentenced to seven years' imprisonment after pleading guilty to dangerous driving causing the deaths of two teenagers.
Kiea McCann, 17, and Dlava Mohamed, 16, died after the car they were travelling in left the road and crashed into a tree in the Legnakeely area on July 31, 2023 while on their way to a debs ball.
At Monaghan Courthouse on Wednesday, McGinn was also disqualified from driving for a period of 15 years. Kiea McCann and Dlava Mohamed were best friends.
Kiea and Dlava had been travelling to a ball to mark the end of their school year, at the Western Arms Hotel in Monaghan town.
Anthony McGinn, 60, who was behind the wheel, had been charged with dangerous driving causing the deaths of the teenagers.
He was also charged with dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm to Dlava's sister, Avin, on the same occasion. Anthony McGinn at Monaghan Circuit Criminal Court, Co Monaghan. Pic: Brian Lawless/PA Wire
McGinn entered a guilty plea to both charges at Monaghan Circuit Court back in January.
Speaking after the sentencing, Kiea's mother Teresa McCann said: 'There is no justice in this. My child's life is gone and never coming back.'
Inspector Ann Marie Lardner said gardai support the families 'in their suffering'. 'Kiea and Dlava were looking forward to celebrating their Debs on the night of the 31st of July, 2023 – they had their entire lives and bright futures in front of them. They were killed in a devastating road traffic collision and never came home.' Speaking after the sentencing, Kiea's mother Teresa McCann said: 'There is no justice in this. My child's life is gone and never coming back.' Pic: Brian Lawless/PA Wire/PA Images
Ms Lardner said gardai stand 'united in grief' with the families following the recent death of Garda Kevin Flatley, from the roads policing unit, who was struck by a high-powered motorcycle.
She said: 'Garda Kevin Flatley went to work last Sunday, an ordinary day, he never came home. They are just three of the 418 killed in our roads since the start of 2023.
'An Garda Siochana and all our road safety partners continuously repeat and repeat and repeat: Speeding kills.
'Kiea and Dlava were killed because of excessive speed. Kevin was on duty detecting and preventing speeding on our roads when he was killed.'
She added: 'As a society, Ireland needs to reset in our collective attitude towards road safety. As a society, we need to slow down. As a society, we need to have a conversation with those who we know drive too fast, either in excess of the speed limit or too fast for the road conditions.
'The only people who can drive slower are drivers. But everybody can influence a driver. Slow down, make our roads safer. Get home safe to your families every day.'
The then-taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, had offered his condolences to both families in the wake of the crash.
He said at the time: 'The debs is one of the special occasions in Irish lives, it is a rite of passage that marks the transition from being a schoolchild to being a young adult.
'It is a time filled with opportunity and boundless hope – for two young lives to be cut short in such an untimely way and tragic manner has gripped the nation.'
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