Driver in horror crash that killed debs teens jailed for seven years
Anthony McGinn (61) of Drumloo, Newbliss, Co Monaghan, previously pleaded guilty over an incident in which he drove almost twice the speed limit and struck a tree at Legnakelly, Co Monaghan, on July 31, 2023. The horrific crash claimed the lives of Kiea McCann (17) and her 16-year-old best friend Dlava Mohammed - who were on their way to their debs when the tragedy occurred.
McGinn also pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm in the case of Dlava Mohammed's sister, Avin, who was critically injured but survived the incident. Judge John Aylmer handed down a headline sentence of nine years at Monaghan Circuit Criminal Court this morning with the final two years suspended in full. Judge Aylmer also suspended McGinn from driving for 15 years.
McGinn was placed in a 'position of trust' to drive the teens to the Debs ball in Monaghan Town that evening, Monaghan Circuit Court previously heard. However, after travelling at 'excessive speeds' of 151 km/h in an 80 km/h zone, on a wet road, the white BMW skidded and crashed into a tree on a section of the N54 at Legnakelly near Clones, killing Keia and Dlava and seriously injuring Dlava's sister, Avin.
Last week, distressing scenes unfolded at Monaghan Circuit Court during the sentencing hearing as family and friends of Kiea and Dlava saw their final moments when the speeding car skidded and crashed into the tree. Dashcam footage from a vehicle travelling behind McGinn's white BMW showed the car travelling at speed before skidding to the other side of the road and crashing into a tree. Distraught family and friends let out gasps and became visibly upset and left the courtroom for a time.
Inspector Ann-Marie Lardner told the court 'considerable speed' caused the white BMW to crash when McGinn drove at speeds of 151 km/h in an 80 km/h zone before the car skidded on a wet road and into a tree on the opposite site of the road at an impact speed of 121.5 km/h. The court also heard McGinn was 'put in a position of trust' to drive the teenagers to their Debs Ball in Monaghan Town that evening in the BMW he recently purchased from his son-in-law.
Following the crash, a nurse came on the scene, along with Kiea's family members. Kiea and Dlava were pronounced dead at the scene while Avin, the front seat passenger, Oisin Clerkin and McGinn were brought to hospital. 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. I see my car sliding. I don't know what speed I was doing," McGinn said and admitted he knew the speed was 80 km/h.
At that point, there was disruption in court when members of Kiea's family became emotional and Kiea's dad Frankie shouted in anger: "If this man won't send you down. I'll never forget you, you fu**ing b**tard."
In a statement to Gardaí, front seat passenger Oisin Clerkin said "All I know is he was speeding and playing music. I told him to slow down. He didn't reply. 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."
In victim impact statements read out by Inspector Lardner from family members, Dlava's dad Mohammed said his daughter was 'a piece of his heart' and he will carry the pain of her loss for the rest of his life. He also said he lost a part of all of children that day and he watches his wife wake up everyday with a broken heart. He said he thought when they came to Ireland from war-torn Syria they could build their dreams "but Dlava's dreams are now buried with her".
"I want him to become a lesson, an example. I want the harshest punishment. I want justice, not revenge," Mr Mohammed said. Dlava's sister Avin - who suffered severe injuries in the crash - said the crash changed her life forever. "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."
She said for months she didn't know her sister Dlava and friend Kiea had died. "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." Kiea's dad Frankie - who went to the scene of the crash and tried to revive Kiea and Dlava said Kiea was a "bright shining star, a gift from God," with dreams of becoming a social worker.
"She will never know her first love, get married or have a child of her own," Frankie said, breaking down in tears. She was more than the girl killed in the Debs crash. It's a death sentence for my family. My wife and kids are broken. This isn't a nightmare, it's life-long."
Addressing McGinn, Frankie said: "Because of a decision you made, you took our daughter from our lives and our hearts." In her statement, Kiea's mother Teresa said she "trusted" McGinn to "take my child safe" to the Debs ball.
"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."
Theresa said Kiea's 18th birthday present was her headstone while what would have been her first day at college was her Month's Mind. "All we have now is memories and a headstone with her photograph to look at," said Theresa in her Victim Impact Statement.
Counsel for McGinn, Breffni Gordon, said in mitigation McGinn entered an early guilty plea, was very seriously injured, expressed genuine remorse and formally apologised to all the families and friends of Kiea and Dlava. He had to endure the social stigma, lost his job and income and lost his relationship with his wife and three children. "It has had a catastrophic effect on him too."
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Sunday World
10 hours ago
- Sunday World
House of Prayer claims casino visits were ‘present' to cheer Christina Gallagher up
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Christina pictured again recently in the same casino House of Prayer's Christina Gallagher is confronted by reporter Alan Sherry in a casino As soon as our reporter identified himself and asked Gallagher if her followers knew about her 'secret hobby', she grabbed a winning docket and stuffed it in her pocket before leaving the machine. 'I only come the odd time,' she said, before denying she used any donations to gamble. As we continued to quiz her, she walked to another machine in the casino where former House of Prayer company secretary and Christina's close confidant Noel Guinan was playing. The pair then made a bee-line for the exit before getting in a 7- Series BMW and driving away. But now, The House of Prayer and Noel Guinan have given an explanation for what happened. In a message posted on Gallagher's own website, which has not been available in Ireland since the casino incident but is still online in the US, the House of Prayer attacked the Sunday World claiming it had 'tried to mislead people and discredit Christina Gallagher's reputation'. The message claimed Gallagher was in ill-health after suffering two mini strokes and two heart attacks over the years and had an iron transfusion a few days before and was due to have another one the following day. Noel Guinan, who had little to say on the day we approached him, also attacked our coverage and said the casino was his idea. 'On the day before the second procedure – which was in fact her birthday – I treated her to lunch as a birthday gift. 'From our conversation, I gathered how worried she really was about having to undergo the procedure again. I was just trying to think of something else to distract her. On the way back to her home, I innocently spotted a place where there were slot machines, and I thought that might help to distract her a little. Gallagaher at one of her House of Prayer 'visionary' events 'When we went inside, I gave her some money to put into a machine. I emphasise – I gave her the money myself. We were there for a short time when I heard her call my name. I turned to see two men standing beside her, telling her they were from a particular newspaper. They were repeatedly berating her with questions all the way back to the car as we left. 'I was so shocked, in fact, at the whole incident that I nearly collapsed myself. 'Come Sunday, I was horrified at the article the tabloid in question had published. Most frightening of all was to think that she was being investigated for four months, according to them. From what I see, she can have no social outlet, as everyone is entitled to and most people take for granted,' the post concluded. 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'Every human being is entitled to move around freely, wherever they choose,' the statement read. 'They are likewise free to spend their own money as they wish – in this case, a personal gift Christina received on her birthday in an effort to distract her from the dread of a most painful medical procedure due to take place on the following day.' Christina Gallagher leaves Quirkeys Casino in Phibsborough, Dublin Studies have shown that casino gambling increases heart rate and cortisol (stress hormone) levels which can put stress on the heart. Gallagher, who claims to have stigmata, has also told followers that she speaks directly to Jesus and the Virgin Mary. Numerous former attendees and family members have spoken of the constant pressure to donate to the House of Prayer, preferably in cash or by buying items from their shop, including a supposedly magical picture of the Virgin Mary (€250), which Gallagher claims Jesus endorses and will provide holy protection in a coming apocalypse. We pictured Christina gambling back in February A former devotee based in the US told the Sunday World this week how he has come to believe Gallagher is not genuine and said the Houses of Prayer in New York, Florida and Minnesota were 'losing followers in their droves' in recent months. 'This is cult of personality and has nothing to do with God, love, fellowship or the Church... It is not what is advertised and it is a tragic thing in these uncertain times.' The source, who asked to remain anonymous, added that the picture of Mary was 'one of the most spiritually dangerous things there for all that glitters is not gold'. 'It is in short a trap for the faithful. There is very little there to do with God, let alone a place to go pray. All the prayers and messages are strictly geared towards Ms Gallagher and towards providing for her needs with an 'or else' caveat always present in these fearful times.' He said as well as being warned of the end of days coming, followers were told Gallagher is a saint. 'People at the HOP thoroughly believe her statements of being a self-proclaimed saint and yet if any single person were to suffer as much as they are being 'told' she is – this woman would be in a wheelchair constantly and not a frequent guest in the local gambling emporium.' He said the Houses of Prayer in the US are required to fill a quota and have mandatory sign-in sheets to track those attending but have been haemorrhaging followers as more is revealed about Gallagher. 'No one is allowed to video tape or take notes inside. She has constantly covered her behaviours of paranoia by saying she had $1million stolen from her hence the tight security. My question is – how does a saint get $1million in the first place?' Christina pictured again recently in the same casino Today's News in 90 Seconds - 18th August
The Irish Sun
a day ago
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Sunday World
a day ago
- Sunday World
Fake visionary who convinced followers to hand over millions spotted gambling on slot machines
Cult claim that cash spent by Gallagher on casino visits was a 'birthday present' to cheer her up We pictured Christina gambling back in February and again recently (above) in the same casino Fake visionary Christina Gallagher has bizarrely claimed the money she spent gambling on slot machines was a 'birthday present' from her pal Noel Guinan, who 'innocently spotted' the casino and thought the one-arm bandits would cheer her up. The Sunday World recently revealed how the self-proclaimed visionary, who has convinced followers to hand over millions to her organisation by claiming their donations will offer them holy protection, has been gambling on slot machine casinos for years. Gallagher, who has lived a life of luxury in multi-million-euro mansions with facilities including hot tubs, private lakes, swimming pools and gyms, founded the House of Prayer in Achill, Co Mayo in 1993 and has since expanded to the US. When we confronted Gallagher in Dr Quirkey's in Phisboro, Dublin in June as she was gambling away on a big money slot machine. Christina Gallagher flees Dr Quirkey's As soon as our reporter identified himself and asked Gallagher if her followers knew about her 'secret hobby', she grabbed a winning docket and stuffed it in her pocket before leaving the machine. 'I only come the odd time,' she said, before denying she used any donations to gamble. As we continued to quiz her, she walked to another machine in the casino where former House of Prayer company secretary and Christina's close confidant Noel Guinan was playing. Suffering The pair then made a bee-line for the exit before getting in a 7- Series BMW and driving away. But now, The House of Prayer and Noel Guinan have given an explanation for what happened. In a message posted on Gallagher's own website, which has not been available in Ireland since the casino incident but is still online in the US, the House of Prayer attacked the Sunday World claiming it had 'tried to mislead people and discredit Christina Gallagher's reputation'. The message claimed Gallagher was in ill-health after suffering two mini strokes and two heart attacks over the years and had an iron transfusion a few days before and was due to have another one the following day. Noel Guinan, who had little to say on the day we approached him, also attacked our coverage and said the casino was his idea. 'On the day before the second procedure – which was in fact her birthday – I treated her to lunch as a birthday gift. 'From our conversation, I gathered how worried she really was about having to undergo the procedure again. I was just trying to think of something else to distract her. On the way back to her home, I innocently spotted a place where there were slot machines, and I thought that might help to distract her a little. Gallagaher at one of her House of Prayer 'visionary' events 'When we went inside, I gave her some money to put into a machine. I emphasise – I gave her the money myself. We were there for a short time when I heard her call my name. I turned to see two men standing beside her, telling her they were from a particular newspaper. They were repeatedly berating her with questions all the way back to the car as we left. 'I was so shocked, in fact, at the whole incident that I nearly collapsed myself. 'Come Sunday, I was horrified at the article the tabloid in question had published. Most frightening of all was to think that she was being investigated for four months, according to them. From what I see, she can have no social outlet, as everyone is entitled to and most people take for granted,' the post concluded. Despite Guinan's suggestion that they were just passing the casino and went in out of the blue, regular gamblers there told the Sunday World the pair had been visiting for around a year and said Gallagher would have wads of cash in her hand as she pumped money into machines. Today, we are also publishing pictures of Gallagher gambling at the casino in February shortly before Lent. Guinan was also present on that night and regulars say they spotted the pair on the premises on multiple other occasions. Guinan made no reference to these other visits in his statement, nor did he say he gave her the money to gamble on those occasions. Disease In a separate statement, the House of Prayer said Gallagher is suffering from serious ill health and said she has disease in her 'blood, liver, heart, lungs and kidneys' and she also suffers severely from arthritis, which they claimed resulted 'from the non-stop persecution and evil attacks upon her'. 'Every human being is entitled to move around freely, wherever they choose,' the statement read. 'They are likewise free to spend their own money as they wish – in this case, a personal gift Christina received on her birthday in an effort to distract her from the dread of a most painful medical procedure due to take place on the following day.' Christina Gallagher leaves Quirkeys Casino in Phibsborough, Dublin Studies have shown that casino gambling increases heart rate and cortisol (stress hormone) levels which can put stress on the heart. Gallagher, who claims to have stigmata, has also told followers that she speaks directly to Jesus and the Virgin Mary. Numerous former attendees and family members have spoken of the constant pressure to donate to the House of Prayer, preferably in cash or by buying items from their shop, including a supposedly magical picture of the Virgin Mary (€250), which Gallagher claims Jesus endorses and will provide holy protection in a coming apocalypse. Cult A former devotee based in the US told the Sunday World this week how he has come to believe Gallagher is not genuine and said the Houses of Prayer in New York, Florida and Minnesota were 'losing followers in their droves' in recent months. 'This is cult of personality and has nothing to do with God, love, fellowship or the Church... It is not what is advertised and it is a tragic thing in these uncertain times.' The source, who asked to remain anonymous, added that the picture of Mary was 'one of the most spiritually dangerous things there for all that glitters is not gold'. 'It is in short a trap for the faithful. There is very little there to do with God, let alone a place to go pray. All the prayers and messages are strictly geared towards Ms Gallagher and towards providing for her needs with an 'or else' caveat always present in these fearful times.' He said as well as being warned of the end of days coming, followers were told Gallagher is a saint. 'People at the HOP thoroughly believe her statements of being a self-proclaimed saint and yet if any single person were to suffer as much as they are being 'told' she is – this woman would be in a wheelchair constantly and not a frequent guest in the local gambling emporium.' He said the Houses of Prayer in the US are required to fill a quota and have mandatory sign-in sheets to track those attending but have been haemorrhaging followers as more is revealed about Gallagher. 'No one is allowed to video tape or take notes inside. She has constantly covered her behaviours of paranoia by saying she had $1million stolen from her hence the tight security. My question is – how does a saint get $1million in the first place?' We pictured Christina gambling back in February and again recently (above) in the same casino Today's News in 90 Seconds - 17 August
