Laois crash emergency workers 'were locals who knew the victims they were trying to free'
Investigations are continuing into a horrific crash that killed three young people in Co Laois early yesterday morning.
Thirty-five-year-old Angela Kelly and Orla Curry and Martin Brophy, who were both 20, died when the car they were in hit a road sign on the main Rathdowney to Abbeyleix road.
A 16-year-old boy was also injured in the collision, which happened after the group left a 21st birthday party.
Parish priest of Rathdowney Father Martin Delaney attended the scene, and said it was very difficult for the emergency services, many of whom were from the local fire service.
"I was very conscious when they were trying to free the young people from the car that they knew them, and knew their families," he said.
"They were conscious their friends were going to get this awful information in the next hour or so."
