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Belfast Telegraph
22-05-2025
- Belfast Telegraph
Funeral of former UDA leader takes place in Dundonald
Funeral of former UDA leader Andy Tyrie in Dundonald this morning. The former Loyalist leader passed away last weekend. PACEMAKER BELFAST. 22/05/2025 Funeral of former UDA leader Andy Tyrie in Dundonald this morning. The former Loyalist leader passed away last weekend. PACEMAKER BELFAST. The funeral of former loyalist paramilitary leader Andy Tyrie has taken place in Dundonald this afternoon. Family and friends of Tyrie gathered at Dundonald Presbyterian Church for the service which took place earlier following his death at the weekend aged 85. Tyrie was one of the most prominent figures from the early years of the UDA. He led the terror group from 1973 until 1988, when an attempt on his life led to him quitting. Tyrie stepped away from politics and the public spotlight some time ago. Funeral of former UDA leader Andy Tyrie in Dundonald this morning. The former Loyalist leader passed away last weekend. PACEMAKER BELFAST. 22/05/2025 His tinted glasses and thick moustache made him a recognisable figure during the 1970s and 1980s. It is understood Tyrie had been ill for some time. Andy Tyrie Images from the service earlier showed family walking behind the hearse carrying Tyrie's coffin. A funeral notice for Tyrie added that he 'passed away peacefully after a long illness surrounded by his loving family'. Funeral of former UDA leader Andy Tyrie in Dundonald this morning. The former Loyalist leader passed away last weekend. PACEMAKER BELFAST. News Catch Up - Thursday 22 May "Cherished Husband of Agnes and much loved Dad of Dorothy (Cole), Andrew (Ann) and Linda (John),' it added. 'A very special Granda and Great Granda. "At home with the Lord.'
The Irish Sun
14-05-2025
- The Irish Sun
‘Two beautiful girls – no justice', fume family of teen killed holding hands with best pal as Debs crash driver caged
THE family of Debs crash victim Kiea McCann has slammed the seven-year jail sentence handed down to killer driver Anthony McGinn today. Best pals Kiea, 17, and Dlava Mohammed, 16, died when the 6 Kiea McCann died in the crash in 2023 Credit: PACEMAKER BELFAST 6 Dlava Mohammed also lost her life in the crash Credit: PACEMAKER BELFAST 6 Anthony McGinn was handed down a seven-year jail term Credit: Brian Lawless/PA Wire McGinn, 61 — a friend of Kiea's family who had offered to drive the two teenagers to their school party — He also admitted to McGinn was today And Judge John Aylmer blasted McGinn for travelling at the 'grossly excessive speed' of 151kph in an 80kph zone on a wet road. Read more in News The judge told how the Debs death driver 'ignored pleas to slow down' from frantic passengers. Judge Aylmer said: 'You were entrusted to drive these young people to their Debs. 'And in driving in the manner in which you did, you committed an extraordinary breach of trust.' McGinn, of Drumloo, Newbliss, Co Monaghan, did not show any emotion as he was led away by prison officers to begin his jail sentence. Most read in the Irish Sun Reacting to the jail term outside court, Kiea's mum Teresa declared: 'There is no justice.' Holding a photo of her beloved girl, Teresa said: 'Seven years, that's the justice here. Two beautiful girls. This is my daughter Kiea. 6 Reacting to the jail term outside court, Kiea's mum Teresa declared: 'There is no justice' Credit: Brian Lawless/PA Wire 6 The judge told how the Debs death driver 'ignored pleas to slow down' from frantic passengers Credit: PACEMAKER BELFAST 'And this is what we got, seven years today. There is no justice for this. My child's life is gone and never coming back.' Ms Mohamed's heartbroken family told how they came to Ireland from war-torn Syria to build their dreams but declared: 'Dlava's dreams are now buried with her.' In an exclusive interview with the Irish Sun tonight, the grieving Mohamed family told how 'no sentence would bring the girls back'. And the Mohamed clan urged the nation to 'learn lessons' from the devastation wrought by McGinn's speeding. 'NO SENTENCE WILL BRING THE GIRLS BACK' Dlava's sister Lilav, 23, told the Irish Sun: 'On behalf of my family, we think that there would never be justice in this case if he got a life sentence, or if he was there in the jail for one day. 'The sad fact is that the girls are not going to come back no matter what happens, so it's hard to say justice or not because no sentence will bring the girls back. 'Of course, speeding is intentional. His actions had to be judged. 'But at the same time, we wouldn't say that we're mad that he got seven years because for us, we just wanted him to get something for him to be a lesson to other younger drivers or like to anyone who drives.' 'DEEPLY SADDENED' BY GARDA'S DEATH The Mohamed family revealed how they had been left 'deeply saddened' by the Gda Flatley was operating a checkpoint when he was It brings to 60 the number of deaths on the roads this year. And speaking to the Irish Sun tonight, Lilav pleaded for drivers to slow down in a bid to reduce fatalities on our roads. SLOW DOWN PLEA Lilav said: 'We want the sentence to send a strong message to other drivers. There has been a death this week as well involving the Garda. 'So we want to send the message that no one else should die on the roads. To slow down, we just want people to slow down and learn the lesson. 'That's really what my family want to be honest. 'We are not mad about sentencing. We don't think it's not justice because justice would never be served in this case, no sentence will bring the girls back. 'EXAMPLE BEEN MADE' 'There's an example been made. There's been an example made of McGinn. So hopefully that sends out the right message to other people to slow down.' Emotional Lilav described the two years since Dlava's death as 'so hard' - as she spoke of her hope that other families can be spared from the tragedy they have had to endure. You were entrusted to drive these young people to their Debs. And in driving in the manner in which you did, you committed an extraordinary breach of trust.' Judge John Aylmer She said: 'It's not easy for any one of us during this time, because we've been waiting for two years and we knew that nothing is going to change. Nothing will bring the girls back. Everyone is broken. So I wouldn't say that everyone is doing OK. Hopefully, time will give us more healing. 'We just want to send the message for drivers to slow down so other families don't have to suffer like us.' GIRLS DIED 'HOLDING HANDS' Victim impact statements revealed how Kiea and Dlava died 'holding hands' in the fatal crash on the way to their debs after driver McGinn ignored pleas to slow down. The driver had been speeding on his way to the ball when he lost control of his BMW and smashed into a tree at an impact speed of over 121kph. Both girls tragically died side-by-side following the shocking smash. Dlava's sister Avin, who had also been travelling in the car at the time, suffered serious injuries. GUILTY PLEA McGinn had pleaded guilty to causing the girls' deaths by dangerous driving and causing Avin serious bodily harm. In a heartbreaking victim impact statement, Kiea's mum Teresa told how she 'trusted' McGinn to take her daughter to the leaver's ball. She said: '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.' 'YOU TOOK OUR DAUGHTER' Addressing McGinn in court, Kiea's dad Frankie said: 'Because of the decision you made, you took our daughter from our lives and our hearts.' Dlava's sister Avin told how she feels guilty over the crash as she invited the teen to the dance with her. SLOW DOWN PLEA TOP cops say they stand 'united in grief' with the families of debs crash victims Kiea McCann and Dlava Mohamed. The force is in mourning after Garda Kevin Flatley was knocked down and killed by a speeding motorbike in Dublin on Sunday. His funeral takes place on Friday. After speeding driver Anthony McGinn was yesterday caged, Senior Investigating Officer Ann-Marie Lardner insisted: 'As a society, Ireland needs to reset 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.' She said she did not learn about the pair's death for months due to her injuries after 'everything went black' in the crash. Monaghan Circuit Criminal Court was told McGinn had picked up the group in Monaghan before heading to the ball. HARROWING FINAL MOMENTS Front seat passenger Oisin Clerkin had asked McGinn to 'slow down' but the driver did not respond. Kiea's debs date Oisin, who escaped the smash with non-life threatening injuries, later told cops: '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.' The court was shown harrowing footage of Kiea and Dlava's final moments before McGinn collided with the tree. He later told gardai he had no idea what speed he was going at before the crash. The court heard McGinn was travelling at almost double the limit before hitting the tree at Legnakelly, near Clones, on July 31 2023. 6 The grieving Mohamed family told how 'no sentence would bring the girls back' Credit: Brian Lawless/PA Wire
The Irish Sun
07-05-2025
- The Irish Sun
Monaghan Debs ball crash passengers begged driver to slow down as victims' families detail heartbreaking tragedy impact
The driver of a car that smashed into a tree, killing two teenage girls who were on their way to their Debs two years ago, was going nearly double the speed limit before the collision, a court heard today. The sentencing hearing of Anthony McGinn also heard that the passengers had asked him to slow down before the fatal smash. 6 Anthony McGinn has pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing the deaths of Kiea McCann and Dlava Mohammed Credit: RTE News 6 Kiea McCann died in the crash on the N54 at Legnakelly, Co Monaghan on July 31, 2023 Credit: PACEMAKER BELFAST 6 Dlava Mohammed also lost her life in the crash Credit: RTE News McGinn, of Drumloo, Newbliss, Co Monaghan He also pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm to Dlava Mohammed's sister, Avin, who had also been travelling in the car at the time. Monaghan Circuit Criminal The court heard McGinn had been a friend of the McCann family and had agreed to drop them to their Largy College Debs, which was taking place in the Westenra Arms Hotel in Monaghan town that evening. Read more in News The court heard that this was a "position of trust" and after picking them up at a meeting point at a pub in Clones, they then made their way to Monaghan town. The court was then shown CCTV footage of McGinn's white BMW leaving the N54 and colliding with a tree, which caused family members present some distress and led to the calling of a short recess. McGinn had been estimated to have been travelling over 150km/h in a 80km/h zone before the crash, the court heard. The car was travelling at 121km/h when it hit the base of the tree. Most read in Irish News While the road was in good repair, Ms Lardner said that there had been heavy showers on the night and conditions were wet. Victim impact statements were read out in court, and in one, Avin said the crash changed her life forever. 'EVERYTHING WENT BLACK' She added that she "got angry" and told McGinn to slow down after he "began speeding", but then "everything went black". She said that she had no idea for months that her sister Dlava and friend Kiea had died. In another statement, passenger Oisin Clerkin said he "told him (McGinn) to slow down" but "he didn't reply". He also told how he turned to Kiea and said "goodbye" and then "woke up in hospital". 'DREAMS NOW BURIED' Ms Lardner read out a statement by Dlava's father Mohammed Mohammed, who said his daughter was a "piece of (his) heart" and that he'll carry the pain of her loss for the rest of his life. He described how his family left Syria in 2017 to start a new life and build their dreams but "Dlava's dreams are now buried with her". Kiea's dad Frankie McCann said in a statement that performing CPR on his daughter and Dlava, in vain, will stay with him forever. He added of Kiea: "She will never know her first love, get married or have a child of her own. She was more than the girl killed in the Debs crash." 'YOU TOOK OUR DAUGHTER' Addressing McGinn, he said: "Because of the decision you made, you took our daughter from our lives and our hearts." Counsel for McGinn Breffni Gordon BL appealed to the court that McGinn had entered an early guilty plea and that he had expressed genuine remorse and formally apologised to the families. He also mentioned McGinn's lack of previous convictions and low risk of reoffending, while McGinn had lost his job and income, relationship with his wife and kids and had to suffer the stigma of being involved in the collision, adding: "It had a catastrophic effect on him too." Judge John Aylmer adjourned sentencing to Wednesday, May 14. 6 Avin Mohammed said the crash changed her life forever Credit: Journalist Collect 6 Dlava's dad Mohammed said he'll carry the pain of her loss for the rest of his life Credit: RTE Collect 6 Kiea's dad Frankie McCann said performing CPR on his daughter and Dlava, in vain, will stay with him forever Credit: RTE Collect
